The USNS Apache (T-ATF-172) was a Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command from 1981 until her decommissioning in 2022. Built by Marinette Marine Co. in Wisconsin, she was laid down on March 22, 1979, and launched on March 28, 1981, with her delivery to the Navy following on July 23 of that year. The vessel was constructed of welded steel plates and measured approximately 240 feet (73.18 meters) overall in length, with a waterline length of about 225 feet 11 inches (68.86 meters). She had a beam of 42 feet (13 meters) and a draft of 15 feet (4.6 meters), displacing 2,260 tons fully loaded. Powered by two GM EMD 20-645F7B diesel engines delivering 7,200 shaft horsepower, Apache could reach speeds of 15 knots. Her propulsion system included two controllable-pitch Kort-nozzle propellers and a 300-horsepower bow thruster for enhanced maneuverability. Electrical power was supplied by three 400 kW generators driven by Detroit Diesel engines. With a large fuel capacity of over 206,000 gallons, she boasted a range of 10,000 miles at 13 knots, supporting her global operational range. Designed primarily as a fleet ocean tug, Apache featured a large aft deck with 4,000 square feet of working space, capable of producing a bollard pull of 90 short tons. She was equipped with a 10-ton crane and multiple winches, including a SMATCO 66 DTS-200 electro-hydraulic drive winch for long-distance towing and a Lake Shore traction machine for shorter tows. Her towing capabilities enabled her to assist damaged vessels, such as USS Gonzalez and USNS Antares, and to support salvage operations, notably deploying the Cable-operated Unmanned Recovery Vehicle (CURV) 21. Throughout her service, Apache participated in various notable missions, including research expeditions, rescue operations, and salvage efforts like recovering the voyage data recorder from the sinking of the container ship El Faro in 2015. She also supported operations in Haiti, the Mediterranean, and Liberia, and was involved in significant salvage and investigation missions, highlighting her maritime significance. The vessel earned numerous awards, including the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the MSC Maritime Excellence "E" Award, before being retired and stricken from the Naval register in September 2022.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.