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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by ENCS Jerry Patterson USN Ret. LCU-1624

YFU-81
Harbor Utility Craft

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

YFU-81 was transferred to Panama under the Security Assistance Program
YFU-71 Class Harbor Utility Craft:
  • Built by Pacific Coast Engineering Co., Alameda, CA (YN 240)
  • Laid down, May 1968
  • Launched, July 1968
  • Delivered, September 1968
  • During the Vietnam War YFU-81 was assigned to the Lighterage Division at US Naval Support Activity Da Nang, Republic of South Vietnam
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Transferred to the US Army 329th Heavy Boat Co. at Da Nang, South Vietnam circa May-June 1970
  • Evacuated to Guam circa 1974-75
  • Returned to US Navy control circa mid-1980s
  • Struck from the US Naval Register, 21 January 2004
  • Transferred through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), Foreign Military Sale or Lease to Panama, 21 May 2004
  • Named SMN General Esteban Huertas (A-402), 16 July 2004
    Specifications:
    Displacement220 tons (lt) 380 tons(fl)
    Length 125'
    Beam 36'
    Draft 6'
    Speed 9 kts.
    Complement 1 CPO, 11 enlisted
    Armament 3-50.cal machine guns
    Propulsion 2 Detroit Diesel 471 Series, 115Kw 185A generators, twin shafts
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    YFU-81 548k YFU-81 on the landing craft ramp at Hue, circa 1969. Note the Seabee forklift from NMCB-121 putting a pallet aboard her.
    Photo from South East Asia: Building the Bases by Richard Tregaskis.    		 Dave Wright
    YFU-81 49k YFU-81 offloading cargo at NSAD Cua Viet, just prior to that site's disestablishment in February 1970.
    Photo from Changes: A History of Naval Support Activity/Facility DaNang.    		 Dave Wright
    YFU-81 193k Ex-YFU-81 at Mayport FL. in 2003 prior to her transfer to Panama in May 2004 Tom Lanagan YFU-79
    YFU-81 271k Ex-YFU-81 in Panamanian naval service as SMN General Esteban Huertas (A-402), docked at Naval Base Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Panama, 25 January 2014. Scanmarine.com with permission of webmaster
    There is no DANFS history for YFU-81 available at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To Yard and District Craft Type Index Back To The Harbor Utility Craft (YFU) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 18 July 2019