Vietnam War Operations
On 29 February 1967 she began a tour which brought her for the first time to the coast of embattled Vietnam. On 21 April Mataco brought YFR-890 in tow to Vũng Tàu, and in May took up fishing trawler surveillance on "Yankee Station". After towing a damaged LST from Da Nang to Guam in July, she trained Korean navy men in salvage in Chinhae, then returned San Diego on 6 November.
In March 1968 the Mataco began her second West-Pac tour towing the YD-91 floating crane)to Guam. On to Subic and pick up a floating hospital barge to two to Danang. Then on to Yankee Station to provide specialized electronic cover with the 7th fleet. An at sea mishap caused the loss of radar capabilities and shortened the time on station. After repairs, the Mataco went into the upper reaches of the Saigon River in the vicinity of Nha Be to tow the mined SS Cuba Victory to Yokosuka Japan.
Operating from Yokosuka she participated in the rescue of the USS Asheville (PG-84) and SS Plymouth Victory. She was also on secret standby to act as the rescue tug for the captured USS Pueblo, had the decision been made to go get the spy ship. When the stand-by duty was competed, trailing two tows she sailed back to Danang and Nha Be. After delivering them she headed for Sattahip Thailand. She provided for launch and retrieve and savage services for the Royal Thai Navy. The crew offered up the new designation: CV-AFT-86.
In 1967 and 1968, the Mataco earned the Commander's Service Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency "E."
When she arrived back in San Diego on 3 Oct, 1968, the '68 West-Pac had covered 26,200 miles.
The hard working fleet tug remained an active unit of the Pacific Fleet into 1969.
Read more about this topic: USS Mataco (AT-86)
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