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USNS Sioux (T-ATF 171)

- Military Sealift Command -
- stricken -


Sorry,
no coat of arms
available.

Named after the Dakota Indians of North America, which occupy North and South Dakota, the USNS SIOUX was the sixth POWHATAN - class ocean tug. The Indian tribe after which the SIOUX was named became known as the Sioux from a mispronounciation of an enemy tribe's word meaning "snake."

The USNS SIOUX was equipped with a 10-ton capacity crane and a bollard pull of at least 54 tons. A deck grid was fitted aft which contained 1 inch bolt receptacles spaced 24 inches apart. That allowed for the bolting down of a wide variety of portable equipment. There were two GPH fire pumps supplying three fire monitors with up to 2,200 gallons of foam per minute. A deep module could be embarked to support naval salvage teams.

After more than 40 years of service, SIOUX was deactivated and stricken from the Navy list on September 30, 2021. The ship is presently laid up at Pearl Harbor, Hi., awaiting final disposal.

General Characteristics:Awarded: February 27, 1978
Keel laid: March 22, 1979
Launched: November 15, 1980
Delivered: May 1, 1981
Stricken: September 30, 2021
Builder: Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, WI.
Propulsion system: 2 GM EMD 20-645F7B diesels; 5.73 MW sustained; 2 shafts; Kort nozzles; cp props; bow thruster; 300 hp (224 kW)
Propellers: two
Length: 226 feet (68.9 meters)
Beam: 42 feet (12.8 meters)
Draft: 15.1 feet (4.6 meters)
Displacement: approx. 2,260 tons full load
Speed: 14.5 knots
Aircraft: none
Armament: none
Crew: 16 civilians and 4 naval communications technicians
Homeport: San Diego, Calif.


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS SIOUX. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.


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The photo below was taken by me and shows the SIOUX at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 10, 2008.



The photos below were taken by me and show the SIOUX at Naval Base Point Loma, Calif. The first four photos were taken on September 29, 2011, while the last photo was taken on October 2, 2011.



The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the SIOUX at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 27, 2014.



The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the SIOUX at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on April 18, 2016.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the SIOUX at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on October 11, 2017.



The photo below was taken by Sebastian Thoma and shows ex-SIOUX in Middle Loch at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on March 18, 2022.



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