USS Paiute (ATF-159)

During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Paiute carried out patrol assignments, and following the isolation of the Guantanamo naval base by the Castro Government, she supplied much needed water by towing water barges from the States, until a desalinization plant was installed and operational.

In 1965, she delivered fuel barges to the Dominican Republic during the hot political crisis there. She was on Prime Recovery Station One during the Gemini 6 and 7 manned space flights, and for Gemini 8 in 1966. Paiute moved to the New England area to provide services through 1967, returning to Guantanamo at the year's end. On 19 November, Paiute underwent another Line-crossing ceremony During 1968, she participated in several major salvage operations and fleet exercises. In the fall, she was again on recovery station for the Apollo 7 space shot. During February 1969, Paiute was awaiting splashdown of Apollo 9.[3]

In 1982, Pauite towed the USS Iowa from the Philadelphia Navy Yard to Avondale Shipyard for her reactivation into naval service. On 23 August 1985, Paiute was decommissioned at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. She was later recommissioned on 30 September 1988. [4]

International radio call sign of USS Paiute (ATF-159)
November	Zulu	November	Golf

Paiute at Washington Naval Yard, 1981. Note the removal of the fore 76mm gun.

On 7 August 1992, Paiute was decommissioned for the second and final time following the end of the Persian Gulf War. She was struck from the Naval Register on 14 February 1995, and transferred to the Maritime Administration on 29 December 1997, for disposal. Paiute was scrapped in 2003.