Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Tags
Related Content
Topic
Document Type
  • Ship History
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials

Tonkawa II (YTB-786)


Image related to Tonkawa II
Caption: The district tug Tonkawa (YTB-796), her mast hinged back to permit her to operate in cramped spaces.

(YTB-786: dp. 356- (f.) ; 1. 109'; b. 31'; dr. 14'; s. 12 k.; cpl. 12; cl. Natick)

An Indian tribe which lived in central Texas during most of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Tonkawa were war wanderers who lived chiefly on game, mostly buffalo. In 1859, they were placed on a reservation at the Washita River. In 1862, nearly half of the 300 remaining members were massacred by the Delaware, Shawnee, and Caddo warriors for allegedly aiding the Confederacy. Refugees fled to Fort Griffin, Tex. In 1884, the survivors were moved to a small reservation near Ponca City, Okla.

II

The second Tonkawa (YTB-786) was laid down on 22 December 1965 at Marinette, Wis., by the Marinette Marine Corp.; launched on 15 March 1966; and placed in service in June 1966. Tonkawa was then assigned to duty at Advanced Bases, Atlantic Area, and provided tug and tow services for the Atlantic Fleet into October 1979.

Published: Wed Sep 30 13:03:24 EDT 2015