USS Menominee (AT-73) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II.[1] Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." During World War II she was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater where she participated in four campaigns earning four battle stars.

USS Menominee (AT-73) in San Francisco Bay, 30 September 1942.
History
United States
NameUSS Menominee
NamesakeMenominee
BuilderUnited Engineering Co.
Laid down27 September 1941
Launched14 February 1942
Commissioned25 September 1942
Decommissioned15 November 1946
ReclassifiedFleet ocean tug ATF-73, 15 May 1944
Stricken1 November 1959
Identification
Honors and
awards
5 × battle stars for World War II
FateTransferred to Indonesia, renamed Rakata (928)
Indonesia
NameKRI Rakata
NamesakeRakata
Acquired26 January 1961
Identification
  • Pennant number: 928 (1961)
  • Pennant number: 922 (1980s)
FateSunk as target 2004
General characteristics
Class and typeNavajo-class fleet tug
Displacement1,240 long tons (1,260 t)
Length205 ft (62 m)
Beam38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Draft15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
Propulsion
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Complement
  • 86 (initial)
  • 67 (as of 1989)
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

Description

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Menominee was laid down 27 September 1941, at United Engineering Co. in San Francisco and launched on 14 February 1942. She was commissioned 25 September 1942.[1]

Decommission and sale

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After the war, Menominee sailed for home. In Portland on 15 November 1946, she was decommissioned and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was struck from the Naval Register 1 November 1959, and transferred to Indonesia on 26 January 1961 as part of the Military Assistance Program. She served in Indonesia as Rakata (928). While in Indonesian service, the Oerlikon 20 mm cannons located in bridge wings were replaced with 2M-3 twin 25 mm cannons of Soviet origin.[2] In the 1980s, her pennant number were changed to 922.[3] As of 2004, the ship was mostly used as patrol ship.[4] Rakata was sunk as target by KRI Nanggala (402) in a joint exercise in Indian Ocean between 8 April and 2 May 2004.[5][6]

Citations

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  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

  1. ^ a b c "USS Menominee". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  2. ^ Moore 1979, p. 252
  3. ^ Sharpe 1989, p. 273
  4. ^ Saunders 2004, p. 338
  5. ^ "KRI Nanggala-402, Submarine Purchased 1982 From Germany, Most Senior In Indonesian Navy". voi.id. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Mengenal KRI Nanggala 402, kapal selam tangguh andalan TNI AL". merdeka.com (in Indonesian). 10 December 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

References

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