USS Wingina (YTB-395)

USS Wingina (YTB-395) was initially laid down as District Harbor Tug YT-395 but was re-classified while still under construction as District Harbor Tug, Large YTB-395. After her comissioning, she served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1980.

The Wingina was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, 13th Naval District at the Bremerton Navy Yard in Puget Sound, Washington. She served there until shortly after the end of World War II when, like many surplus vessels she was placed out of service and moved to the reserve fleet. Wingina was berthed at the Columbia River Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Astoria, Oregon until she was reactivated in 1947.

In February 1962, she was redesignated a second time, as District Harbor Tug, Medium YTM-415.

For a brief time — June 1964 to March 1965 — Wingina was carried on the naval vessel register as being in "active" status, but as a "redesignated activity craft". At the end of that period, she was reclassified back to "active, in service", a status in which she operated in the 13th Naval District providing pilotage, tug and tow services, and waterfront fire protection, well into 1979.

Placed out of service again in late 1979 or early 1980, Wingina remained berthed in reserve until the end of 1985. On December 31, 1985, she was sticken from the Navy List and was sold for commercial service on December 16, 1986. She was re-named Murph by her new owners. In October 2007, she was stripped and scuttled (illegally) in Quartermaster Harbor, Maury Island, Washington. She is presently listed on the Washington Department of Natural Resources list as a derelict/abandoned vessel.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Navsource.org
• WA Dept of Natural Resources Derelict Vessels