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By Jaedda Armstrong
A historic ship that survived World War II battles and saved lives in “The Perfect Storm” may have a new home in Portsmouth.
The Zuni, a 66-year-old Navy salvage tug passed down to a nonprofit foundation seven years ago, is docked at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk away from the eyes of the public.
The foundation’s goal is to help the Zuni make a comeback as a maritime attraction that will bring tourist dollars to Portsmouth.
“You have a unique city here – it has a great maritime heritage – and we have a unique ship,” Rich Cunningham, assistant director of operations for the Zuni Maritime Foundation, told the City Council at a recent meeting.
The ship’s most famous moment was depicted in the movie and book “The Perfect Storm.” The Zuni, then known as the Coast Guard cutter Tamaroa, rescued three mariners from a sinking sailboat and a crew of National Guardsmen after their helicopter crashed into the ocean.
It’s also the only ship out of about 800 that remains from the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Tentatively, the Zuni would be docked on the Portsmouth waterfront at North Landing. It would serve as a training vessel for scout groups and high school Junior ROTC programs, a host for military reunions and a place to learn the ship’s history. It would be similar to the battleship Wisconsin in Norfolk.
Before that’s possible, the foundation needs to raise about $300,000 to restore the ship, said Tom Robinson, the foundation’s director of public relations.
Foundation officials hope to work with Northrop Grumman Foundation for funding and the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School for volunteers to help with repairs, Robinson said.
The council will vote Tuesday on a preliminary agreement that gives the foundation the right to have a Portsmouth mailing address for fundraising purposes.
The foundation will then have about 18 months to raise the money and restore the ship, the report said.
Jaedda Armstrong, (757) 222-5846, jaedda.armstrong@pilotonline.com
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Irony...From one Portsmouth to another...
To Portsmouth, Va from Portsmouth, NH where the Tam (Zuni) was decommissioned...I was part of effort in the Granite State to keep the Tam there...I am glad it looks like she finally has a home...
To the OhYeah fellow...Some news to you, there are no more Battleships left for museum use, and considering the great expense of maintaining such a capital ship(battleship and aircraft carriers)...This is no small undertaking...Think of the on-going effort to save the USS Texas...She might be permanently drydocked!
Any authentic WW II history is to be cherished...Even a classic looking naval fleet salvage tugboat like this one...The only one of her kind to become a museum. her heroic service in the Navy and Coast Guard, as well as that of her crew is well worth remembering.
Rep. Steve Lindsey
Ches-3
Keene, NH
Historic Ship
I would pay to see this historic ship. Good luck with the fund raising for the restoration!
Yea Right!
Norfolk gets a battleship and we get a tug? If Portsmouth wants to bring something here at least let it be a ship that has some appeal! Who in their right mind would pay to see a tug --- and an old one at that? You can see them everyday going up and down the river for free. Portsmouth has done some stupid things to attract tourist but this is a new level of stupidity!
If you knew the history of this ship
You would be proud to have her. She survived Pearl Harbor. She is last remaining ship from the battle of Iwo Jima. On the east coast, running escort for merchant ships, the capt. saw 2 torpedos heading for a merchant ship and went full speed to intercept and take the torpedo hits to save the merchant. Then he ran her aground so that she wouldn't sink. She had an outstanding career in the Coast Guard as well, several major confiscations for fisheries violations, drug busts, and of course the ship that was in the "perfect storm". I served on her, and she is definately a classy lady, and I'm glad she will be here. I will visit her often.
It should be preserved
Fleet tugs such as the Zuni were an important part of the auxilary fleet of the U.S. Navy. They provided numerous services from towing and stabilizing battle damaged ships to rescuing survivors and towing anything, anywhere. They served all over the Pacific and the Atlantic doing salvage work and saving ships and sailors. Their story is one that is not well know or documented. My father served on one such ship, the U.S.S. Pakana, ATF-108, in the Pacific. They didn't get the attention that the warships did, but they were a very necessary part of the fleet too. I do hope the Zuni/Tamaroa can be preserved for all people to see and understand the important role the fleet tugs have played in maritime history.
I hope they raise the money for her.
She looks so sad and lonely in the picture here. They may restore her as the Zuni, but I will always know her as the USCGC Tamaroa WMEC-166 where I served as a radioman from 90 - 93.