USS Luiseno (ATF-156)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 7 November 1944 |
| Launched: | 17 March 1945 |
| Commissioned: | 16 June 1945 |
| Decommissioned: | 1 July 1975 |
| Fate: | Unknown |
| Struck: | 1 July 1975 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1,205 tons (light), 1,646 tons (full) |
| Length: | 205 ft 0 in |
| Beam: | 38 ft 6 in |
| Draft: | 17 ft 0 in |
| 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 |
| Speed: | 16.5 knots |
| Complement: | 8 officers, 68 enlisted men |
| Armament: | One single 3"/50 gun mount, two twin-40mm gun mounts, two single 20mm guns, two depth charge tracks |
The USS Luiseno (ATF-156) was an Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after the Luiseño peoples (the southernmost division of the Shoshone Indians of California, who received their name from Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, the most important Spanish mission in their territory), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Luiseno was laid down 7 November 1944 by the Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Company of Charleston, South Carolina; launched 17 March 1945; sponsored by Mrs. William J. Roth, Jr.; and commissioned 16 June 1945 with Lieutenant William O. Talley in command. After shakedown, Luiseno operated out of Norfolk and Boston before sailing for Florida 28 July. For the rest of the year she performed salvage and target towing services in the Florida/Cuba area. During the summer of 1946 the fleet tug made a cruise to Bremerhaven, Germany to tow a 350-ton crane to Cristóbal in the Canal Zone, arriving there 20 September. From 1946 Luiseno performed miscellaneous duties including target towing, salvage operations, and other vital services, along the east coast, in the Caribbean and from her home port, Newport, Rhode Island. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962 she operated out of the Guantanamo Naval Base, ready to perform any duty for which she would be called. Despite the lack of fanfare, the accomplishments of this fleet tug contribute significantly to the strength of the world's mightiest fleet. Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 July 1975, Luiseno was subsequently transferred to Argentina under terms of the Security Assistance Program and renamed ARA Francisco De Curruchaga (A3). Her final fate is unknown.
Luiseno received the Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba), American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba).
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Luiseno. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved on August 3, 2007.
- ATF-156 Luiseno. Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved on August 3, 2007.
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