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General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia Cruise Books Accidents aboard the ship Notes of interest About the name SEATTLE Image Gallery to end of page

USS Seattle (AOE 3)

- decommissioned -


USS SEATTLE was the last but one SACRAMENTO - class Fast Combat Support Ship. Decommissioned on March 15, 2005, the SEATTLE was subsequently laid-up in Philadelphia, Penn. The SEATTLE was sold for scrapping in September 2005 to ESCO Marine Inc., Brownsville, Tx. The ship was towed to Brownsville arriving there on February 9, 2006 and scrapping was completed on January 26, 2007.

General Characteristics:Awarded: December 29, 1964
Keel laid: October 1, 1965
Launched: March 1, 1968
Commissioned: April 5, 1969
Decommissioned: March 15, 2005
Builder: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington
Propulsion System: four V2M 600 PSI Propulsion Boilers
Propellers: two
Length: 794 feet (242 meters)
Beam: 107 feet (32.6 meters)
Draft: 38 feet (11.6 meters)
Displacement: approx. 53,000 tons
Speed: 26 knots
Aircraft: two CH-46
Armament: one Sea Sparrow launcher, two Phalanx CIWS
Crew: 48 Officers, 678 Enlisted


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Crew List:

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


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USS SEATTLE Cruise Books:


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Accidents aboard USS SEATTLE:

DateWhereEvents
February 1982Craney Island, Norfolk, Va.In early February, USS SEATTLE is hit by a tugboat while getting underway from Norfolk, Va., causing extensive damage to equipment on the ship's aft end.
June 11, 1982AtlanticUSS SEATTLE and USS AYLWIN (FF 1081) collide when SEATTLE loses steering control while refueling the frigate during transit across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
July 12, 1982Porto Torres, Sardinia, ItalyUSS SEATTLE suffers a " freak explosion" in the after portion of the ship while moored alongside a fuel pier at Porto Torres. A chemical reaction between fuel vapors and a chemical stored in one of the blast-torn spaces causes the explosion which damages the after steering compartment and Enlisted Dining Facility. SEATTLE is able to get underway for Naples, Italy, less than 12 hours after the Genertal Quarters alarm was first sounded.
March 29, 1995 USS SEATTLE collides with the Amphibious Assault Ship USS WASP (LHD 1).
August 18, 1998Philadelphia, Penn.USS SEATTLE hit the decommissioned USS AMERICA (CV 66) while leaving a slip in Philadelphia, sustaining minor damage. A civilian harbor pilot, not the SEATTLE's regular pilot, was at the helm during the crash.
February 7, 2002100 miles east of the Virginia CapesDuring a vertical replenishment with USNS MOUNT BAKER (T-AE 34), one of SEATTLE's CH-46 helicopters went down in the Atlantic Ocean. All four crewmembers were recovered by a second helicopter also participating in the VERTREP and were returned to SEATTLE.

The four crewmembers of the Navy CH-46 "Sea Knight" have been identified as: Lt. Lance Collier, 31; Lt. j.g. Cyndee Brittingham, 28; Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Kevin Maul, 29; and Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Clifton Lyons, 20.The helicopter's co-pilot and one crewmember suffered minor injuries. Co-pilot Lt. j.g. Brittingham received a minor injury to her nose and crewman Petty Officer Maul separated his shoulder. The other two crewmembers were unharmed.

Both helicopters belonged to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 6, Detachment 4, embarked aboard SEATTLE.


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Notes of Interest:


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About the Ship’s Name, about Chief Seattle, the Namesake of the City of Seattle:

Chief Seattle, considered the greatest of all the Puget Sound Indians, was born at the campsite of his ancestors on Blake Island in 1786. His father was Chief Schweabe of the Shuamish Indians.

Chief Seattle was seven years old when Captain Cooke, in the sailing vessel Vancouver, discovered and explored the Puget Sound. Pioneers first landed at Alki Point on 28 September 1851 near the site of the present City of Seattle. Because the native pronunciation of his name (Schweabe) was too difficult for English-speaking people to say, the name Sealth or Seattle was suggested by a local physician, a Dr. Maynard.

Relations between the Indians and the settlers were peaceful from the start of the colonization period. The settlers thought so much of Chief Seattle that they named their new community after him. The relations with the Indians remained peaceful until 1855, when a tribe of the White River District rebelled over an unfair treaty. An attack against the settlers of Seattle was repelled with the aid of the steam barque Decator.

Throughout this violent period, Chief Seattle remained a steadfast and loyal friend of the settlers, and encouraged the Indians to remain peaceful.

In his later years, Chief Seattle was baptized, and adopted the Christian name of Noah. The last years of his life were spent at the Fort Madison Reservation and Agate Point on Bainbridge Island. He died in 1866.


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Click here to view photos of the decommissioning ceremony of the USS SEATTLE on March 15, 2005, at Norfolk, Va.




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