USNS Powhatan (T-ATF-166)

USNS Powhatan (T-ATF-166) was a United States Navy Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug in service from 1979 to 1999.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Powhatan.
USNS Powhatan (T-ATF-166) at sea, 16 April 1981.
History
United States
Name: USNS Powhatan (T-ATF-166)
Namesake: The Powhatan, a Virginia Indian tribe, and the name of a powerful confederacy of tribes which the Powhatan dominated
Builder: Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin
Laid down: 30 September 1976
Launched: 24 June 1978
Acquired: 15 June 1979
In service: 1979
Out of service: 26 February 1999
Stricken: 25 February 2008
Identification: IMO number: 8835578
Fate: Leased for commercial service 26 February 1999; Sold to Turkey 26 February 2008
Status: Active
Notes: In Turkish Navy service since 2008 as TCG Inebolu (A-590)
Turkey
Name: TCG İnebolu
Acquired: 26 February 2008
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug
Displacement:
  • 1,387 long tons (1,409 t) light
  • 2,000 long tons (2,032 t) full
Length: 226 ft (69 m)
Beam: 42 ft (13 m)
Draft: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power: 5.73 megawatts (4,280 horsepower) sustained
Propulsion: 2 × General Motors EMD 20-645F7B diesel engines, two shafts; bow thruster, 300 hp (224 kW)
Speed: 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph)
Complement: 16 civilians plus 4 U.S. Navy personnel (communications unit)

Powhatan was laid down on 30 September 1976 by the Marinette Marine Corporation at Marinette, Wisconsin. Launched on 24 June 1978, and delivered to the U.S. Navy on 15 June 1979, Powhatan was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC), and placed in non-commissioned service as USNS Powhatan (T-ATF-166) in 1979.

Powhatan was taken out of service on 26 February 1999 and leased to Donjon Marine Company, Inc., of Hillside, New Jersey, for commercial service, subject to recall by the Navy.

Turkish Navy

Upon completion of the lease, Powhatan was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 25 February 2008 and sold to Turkey on 26 February 2008 through the Security Assistance Program. Due to her poor condition upon termination of the lease, she underwent a refit which included complete rebuilding of all engines and generators at Charleston, South Carolina. During the refit, the ex-Powhatan was commissioned into the Turkish Navy as TCG Inebolu (A-590).

Inebolu was involved in the search and rescue operations for the downed Turkish F-4 reconnaissance jet in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The aircraft was shot down by Syrian Armed Forces in international airspace on 22 June 2012 killing two pilots. Inebolu joined the research vessel EV Nautilus, and was tasked with the salvage operation for the aircraft's wreckage from the 3,000 m (9,800 ft) deep seabed after the bodies of the pilots were brought up to the surface.[1]

In 2020, damaged Bangladesh Navy corvette BNS Bijoy towed by TCG İnebolu to Turkey for repairs in Aksaz Naval Base. BNS Bijoy was damaged from 2020 Beirut explosion.[2][3]

References
  1. "Pilotların naaşı vatana döndü". Radikal (in Turkish). 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  2. "Damaged Bangladeshi Navy corvette is being towed by Turkish tug for repair". phmcgpe. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  3. "Turkey to repair Bangladesh Navy vessel damaged in Beirut blast". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 5 September 2020.


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