Niantic (YTB-781)

An aerial port side view of USS Ranger (CV 61), with her sailors manning the rails and aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) on her deck, as she is nudged into position by harbor tugs Niantic, Neodesha (YTB-815), and Waxahachie (YTB-814) upon arrival at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 8 March 1993.
History
United States
Ordered	31 January 1964
Builder	Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wisconsin
Laid down	10 December 1964
Launched	7 September 1965
Acquired	10 November 1965
In service	1966
Out of service	26 April 2006
Stricken	26 April 2006
Fate	Sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) reuse/conversion, 11 February 2008
General characteristics
Class and type	Natick-class large harbor tug
Displacement	283 long tons (288 t) (light) 356 long tons (362 t) (full)
Length	109 ft (33 m)
Beam	31 ft (9.4 m)
Draft	14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion	Diesel engine, single screw
Speed	12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement	12

Niantic (YTB–781) was a United States Navy Natick-class large harbor tug named for Niantic, Connecticut.^[1]

Construction

The contract for Niantic was awarded 31 January 1964. She was laid down on 10 December 1964 at Marinette, Wisconsin, by Marinette Marine and launched 7 September 1965.

Operational history

Placed in service in the 14th Naval District in June 1966, Niantic was assigned to the 14th Naval District, headquartered at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Stricken from the Navy List 26 April 2006, Niantic was sold by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for reuse or conversion, 11 February 2008.