Washakie (YTB-386)
1944-1975
A Shoshone Native American chief of mixed Shosone and Umatilla blood. Born about 1804, Washakie died in 1900 and was noted for his friendship for the white man and for his valor as a warrior against tribal enemies, the Blackfoot and Crow. Later in life, he served as a scout for the U.S. Army during the campaigns against the Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapaho, Ute, and other tribes. Fort Washakie, Wyoming, bears his name and is his burial place.
(YTB-386: displacement 218; length 100'0"; beam 25'0"; draft 10'0"; speed 11 knots (trial); complement 15; class Iwana)
Harbor Tug No. 386 was laid down on 13 October 1943 at Brooklyn, N.Y., by Ira S. Bushey & Sons; launched on 13 February 1944; reclassified as a harbor tug, big, and redesignated YTB-386 on 15 May 1944; delivered to the Navy on 30 June 1944; and placed in service as Washakie (YTB-386) on 1 July 1944; by the end of December 1944, Lt. William C. McCarty, D-V(S), USNR, was officer in charge of the vessel.
The tug steamed from New York, transited the Panama Canal, and served the Service Force, Pacific Fleet, for the duration of World War II. During the last year of hostilities, she served at various forward bases in the Central Pacific but finally ended up at Okinawa. She remained active at Okinawa even after the Japanese capitulation in mid-August 1945.
When typhoon Louise struck Okinawa in October 1945, Washakie was one of several ships grounded or otherwise damaged by the storm. As a result of that damage, she was placed out of service on 16 October 1945. Soon refloated, she was ordered to Sasebo, Japan. While underway, the tug ran into another typhoon and was towed to an anchorage near Shanghai for safety. The tug remained in Chinese waters for another six months before returning to the United States. After completing inactivation overhaul, she was placed in reserve with the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.
In May 1953, Washakie came out of reserve, retransited the Panama Canal, and reported for duty at Mayport, Florida. There she remained for the next 22 years, serving under the auspices of the Commandant, Sixth Naval District. In February 1962, she was reclassified a medium harbor tug and received the new designation YTM-386. Ultimately, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1975.
Washakie received one battle star for her World War II service, for her participation in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (13--30 June 1945)
Updated, Robert J. Cressman
28 April 2022
