USS Arapaho (ATF-68)
| Career (United States) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Arapaho |
| Namesake: | An important plains tribe of the Algonquian family, closely associated with the Cheyenne |
| Builder: | Charleston Shipbuilding & Dry-dock Company, Charleston, South Carolina |
| Laid down: | 8 November 1941 at Charleston, South Carolina |
| Launched: | 22 June 1942 |
| Sponsored by: | Mrs. Alice Posey Hatcher |
| Commissioned: | 20 January 1943 as USS Arapaho (AT-68) |
| Decommissioned: | 15 January 1947 at San Diego, California |
| Reclassified: | fleet ocean tug (ATF-68), 15 May 1944 |
| Struck: | 10 July 1961 |
| Honours and awards: |
four battle stars during World War II |
| Fate: | transferred to the Argentine Navy, 1961 |
| Career (Argentina) | |
| Name: | ARA Comandante General Zapiola |
| Acquired: | 1961 |
| Fate: | ran aground and destroyed, November 1971 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Navajo-class fleet ocean tug |
| Tonnage: | 1,235 tons |
| Displacement: | 1,674 tons |
| Length: | 205' |
| Beam: | 38' 6" |
| Draft: | 15' 4" |
| Propulsion: | diesel-electric, four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw, 3,600shp |
| Speed: | 16.5 knots |
| Complement: | 85 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount; two twin 40mm AA gun mounts two single 20mm AA gun mounts |
USS Arapaho (AT-68/ATF-68) was a Navajo-class fleet ocean tug which served the U.S. Navy during World War II with her towing services. She was assigned initially to support the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and was eventually assigned to support Allied forces in the war zones of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in her crew returning home after the war with four battle stars to their credit.
Read more about USS Arapaho (ATF-68): Launched in South Carolina, End-of-war Decommissioning, Subsequent Maritime Career, Honors and Awards