The USS ''Sustain'' (AFDM-7), (formerly ''YFD-63''), was a ''AFDM-3''-class floating dry dock built in 1945 and operated by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Construction and career

''YFD-63'' was built by the Everett Pacific Shipbuilding Co., in Everett,

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in 1945. Melucta with ''YFD-63'' in tow departed Everett for Moore Dry Dock Co.,

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, on 23 January 1945. She would be commissioned later in 1945 after her delivery to the Navy on 1 January. On 1 August 1946, the dry dock was re-designated as AFDM-7. On 28 October 1950, the dry dock would be on commercial lease. In 1956, ''AFDM-7'' was towed through the

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and leased to

Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company The Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO) located in Mobile, Alabama, was one of the largest marine production facilities in the United States of America during the 20th century. It began operation in 1917, and expanded dramaticall ...

. In October 1971, the Navy would reacquire the dry dock as the lease was over. ''AFDM-7'' would be repaired and refitted by the Navy Seabees at Davisville, January 1972. Stationed at Melville from June 1972 until 1974. In December 1972,

USS Nantahala (AO-60) USS ''Nantahala'' (AO–60), the second ship of this name, was laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, Maryland, on 31 October 1943. Launched on 29 April 1944; sponsored by Miss M ...

was dry docked inside ''AFDM-7'' at Melville. towed to

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in April 1974 and later stationed at

from 1974 until 1997. On 7 June 1979, the dry dock was finally named Sustain. In 1984, USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) subsequently undergone sea trials and repairs inside ''Sustain''. From 4 September until 9 October 1984, USS Ainsworth (FF-1090) completed work inside ''Sustain'' at Norfolk. USS Kidd (DDG-993) returned to Norfolk and conducted an emergent dry docking with floating dry dock ''Sustain'' on 30 May, staying there for over a week for an ASW groom and implementation of the combat system operational sequencing system on 4 June 1990. ''Sustain'' was decommissioned on 1 August 1997 and leased to Atlantic Marine and Dry Dock, Inc., Jacksonville on 30 November 1999. The dry dock broke the towline in a storm off Cape Hatteras on 14 January 2000 and drifted for 300 miles in the

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until taken under control by salvage team and towed to

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. Finally arrived at Jacksonville on 24 February 2000. Sustain was struck from the

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on 30 January 2007 and later sold outright to Atlantic Marine on 29 February 2008. In May 2010, Atlantic Marine was acquired by

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renamed

BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards is a division of BAE Systems Ship Repair, which itself is a subsidiary of BAE Systems Inc., the North American arm of British defense conglomerate BAE Systems. It was formed through the acquisition of Atlantic Mari ...

. In 2015, the shipyard was awarded a $27,625,758 by the Navy to dry dock USS Nitze (DDG-94), for docking selected restricted availability. On 29 March 2019,

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was dry docked for repairs inside of the former ''Sustain''.

Awards

American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had perfo ...

* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal * World War II Victory Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

References

External links

NavSource: AFDM-7Naval Vessel Register: Sustain (AFDM-7)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sustain (AFDM-7) World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States Floating drydocks of the United States Navy 1945 ships Ships built in Everett, Washington