Mataco (ATF 86) - Naval Cruise Book

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jlqipa tatnrg TF 86, is .1 Fleet Ocean Tug mum-ct tor ll fierce and Warlikgwif , .MATACO A - L f ,Q ,. , M huge Iiricitn Indian tribe numbering about 20,QlM. lhe lX1lA I .-it fl is a native California Soufk fflwas laid on 27 June, 1942, and She was c-ommissionod at ,-xlnrneda, California her T343 Within six months after commissioning she had vorriplet ed what is believed - lglalizm esgnon-Stop tow in history - from Sam 19ranC'lSc'o, C':ilit'c4rliiu to Brisbane, Australia' a gistaice of over 6,8tlql nautical miles in 36 days. gt h remainder of World War I1 she partie-ipzitecl in the Gilbert Islands opergtmn, D ' t . . the Gaping? anil occupation of Sainan and the assaults on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. ln all, the MATACO earned five engagement stars. Service in Japan during the post war occupation was followed by many towing assig b United States for preservation and future service. nments ot non-sell-propelled vessels being returned found the MATACO participating in the lncfhon landings and perform The Korean conflict Q u ing combat salvage and air-sea rescue missions in tour other nizljor engagements. The MATACO, although a rotated ship, returned to the United St.nt,c-s on is May 1956 having com- pleted more than three years of continuous overseas duty steaming over nautical Peacetime duties of the MATACO consists of towing non-solt'-propelled and decommis sioned vessels from one location to another, search and rescue operat ions, diving and and towing target sleds for surface gunnery exercises. Although armed with a 3 f5tl gun, the automatic towing engine is vommonly referred to the tug's main battery. With this towing engine the NlA'l'At'O is c-:ipable of taking any ship afloat in tow under normal conditions. Four large diesel engines are prime movers for the MATACO's diesel-electric drive that produces 3,060 horsepower to turn her single propeller at speeds up to 16 knots tabout 19 MPHl. Fully loaded her length ot 265 feet and beam of 38 feet displaces about 165Ql tons of water with an average draft of 15 feet. 62 The wsgtime complement of 81 men and seven ofticfors and hor pezicetinie allowanceof A mf? an .We 0ff1CGI'S are organized into three departments under the cf-ognizance of Com- manding Officer and Executive Officer. if Fleefxuijin fiigo homeported Ship, the MATACO is a unit ot' the Service l-'orc'e, U.S. Paciflfiq Whose ins? nn e oiperational and administrative control of Cim'iiii'inmier Service Squadron ON , g la S e proudly d1SP13YS OU her briflge' wings. Lilac lwr sister units within the t e. ATN20 deploys regularly to overseas areas to assist in pre-serving peace. Her SBIWEQS f,tf'-' owing diving and rescue facilities t d ed shguld i'l arise. ' s an ready to serve thc- fleet whenever a ne 1 ffl-'fur .