USS Abinago

History
United States
Name	Abinago
Namesake	In the morning (Navajo language)
Builder	Ira S. Bushey and Sons, Brooklyn, New York
Laid down	25 September 1944
Launched	22 December 1944
Acquired	14 June 1945
Out of service	May 1947
In service	October 1950
Out of service	March 1967
In service	February 1968
Out of service	1973
Reclassified	Medium harbor tug, February 1962
Stricken	1 May 1975
Identification	Hull symbol: YTB-493 Hull symbol: YTM-493
Fate	Sold to the University of Georgia, 21 November 1975
General characteristics
Class and type	Pessacus-class large harbor tug
Displacement	240 long tons (240 t)
Length	100 ft (30 m)
Beam	25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft	19 ft (5.8 m)
Installed power	Diesel engine
Propulsion	1 × Propeller
Speed	11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement	10

USS Abinago (YTB-493/YTM-493) was a Pessacus-class large harbor tug in the service of the United States Navy.^[1] Her name means "in the morning" in the Navajo language.^[2]

She was laid down on 25 September 1944 at Brooklyn, New York by Ira S. Bushey and Sons, launched on 22 December 1944, and delivered to the Navy on 14 June 1945.^[1]

Placed in service with the 1st Fleet, the tug served on the west coast until May 1947, when she was placed in reserve at San Diego. By January 1949, the ship had moved to the 15th Naval District in Panama, but apparently remained in reserve. In October 1950, she was placed back in service for duty in the 5th Naval District, based at Norfolk. Late in 1958, Abinago was reassigned from the 5th Naval District to "advanced bases, Atlantic." However, extant records reveal no specific facts concerning her duties. During her somewhat over eight years in that assignment, the vessel was reclassified a medium harbor tug in February 1962 and simultaneously redesignated YTM-493. Abinago was in the Atlantic Inactive Fleet between March 1967 and February 1968 and then resumed active service with the Atlantic Fleet.^[1]

In 1973, the tug was listed as active in the 5th Naval District but preparing for inactivation. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1975 and she was turned over to the Government Services Administration for disposal. Sold to the University of Georgia Institute of Natural Resources, she was transferred on 21 November 1975.^[1]

Photo gallery of USS Abinago at NavSource Naval History

•  This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.