USS Pinto

History
United States
Name	USS Pinto
Builder	Cramp Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia
Yard number	545
Laid down	10 August 1942
Launched	5 January 1943
Commissioned	1 April 1943
Decommissioned	11 July 1946
Reclassified	ATF-90, 15 May 1944
Stricken	17 May 1974
Identification	AT-90
Honors and; awards	3 battle stars & Navy Unit Commendation (World War II)
Fate	Sold to Peru, 1 May 1974
Peru
Name	BAP Guardian Rios
Acquired	1 May 1974
Identification	ARB-123
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class and type	Navajo-class fleet tug
Displacement	1,235 long tons (1,255 t) light; 1,674 long tons (1,701 t) full;
Length	205 ft (62 m)
Beam	38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Draft	15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric; four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines; single screw; 3,600 shp (2,685 kW);
Speed	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Complement	85
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun; 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts; 2 × single 20 mm guns;

USS Pinto (AT-90) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in the Atlantic Ocean and, at war's end, returned home with three battle stars to her credit.

Pinto was laid down by the Cramp Shipbuilding Co. of Philadelphia 10 August 1942; launched 5 January 1943; sponsored by Miss Lorna Cook; and commissioned 1 April 1943.

World War II Atlantic Ocean operations

Following shakedown, Pinto served in Service Squadron 1, Service Force, Atlantic Fleet operating on the U.S. East Coast of the United States and at Argentia, Newfoundland until 15 December 1943 when she arrived Long Island Sound to conduct salvage and towing operations for the U.S. Army and Navy Proving Grounds, Davisville, Rhode Island.

Normandy Invasion operations

On 26 March 1944, Pinto was underway for the European theater of operations, arriving Falmouth, England on 19 April. She was redesignated ATF-90 on 15 May. She arrived off the Normandy invasion coast on 6 June, where she and two other tugs comprised Combat Salvage Unit 122.3.1 which assisted and made emergency repairs to invasion landing craft while under enemy fire. On "D-Day" plus one (7 June 1944), Susan B. Anthony (AP-72) struck a mine, and was left burning and in a sinking condition. Pinto aided in removing 2,200 Army troops plus the Navy crew, while having to cut the lines connecting Pinto and the Susan b. Anthony with axes as the latter was pulling the former down with her, for which she received the Navy Unit Commendation. It holds the Guinness world record for most people saved with no deaths. Pinto remained on station as combat salvage vessel off "Omaha Beach" until 3 July when she returned to England.

Invasion of Southern France operations

She arrived at Oran, Algeria, on 21 July, and joined the assault Force for "Operation Dragoon". On 15 August she arrived off the coast of southern France with task unit TU 85.14.7 and conducted salvage operations under enemy fire until 28 August when she returned to Oran and then the United States.

Transferred to the Pacific Fleet

On 10 November Pinto, with a floating drydock section in tow, got underway for Panama, whence she proceeded across the Pacific to Bora Bora, Society Islands to join the 7th Fleet. Until June 1945 Pinto engaged in towing and salvage operations off New Guinea, the Admiralties, the Philippines and Morotai. On 4 June, Pinto departed Morotai as part of task group TG 76.20 for the amphibious assault on Brunei Bay, British North Borneo. She remained as salvage tug on station in Victoria Harbour until 2 July when she returned to the Philippine Islands for towing assignments.

During autumn Pinto conducted salvage and towing operations between Morotai, Balikpapan, Tarakan and Leyte Gulf. Then in December she got underway for the United States and inactivation.

Decommissioning

On 11 July 1946 Pinto was decommissioned and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, berthed at Orange, Texas. She was transferred, 1 May 1974, cash sale, under the Security Assistance Program, to Peru, and renamed BAP Guardian Rios (ARB-123).

Awards

Pinto received the Navy Unit Commendation and also three battle stars for World War II service:

Invasion of Normandy, 6 June to 3 July 1944
Invasion of Southern France, 15 to 28 August 1944
Borneo operation, Brunei Bay operation, 4 June to 5 July 1945

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

Photo gallery of USS Pinto (AT-90/ATF-90) at NavSource Naval History