THE TIDEWATER'S HISTORICAL LOG
Information compiled by Tom Darby from ship's documents and cruise books

he USS Tidewater (AD31) was built by the Charleston Naval Shipyard at a cost of $10 million. It was named after the Tidewater Area of the Southeastern United States. The first arc of the keel was struck on 27 November, 1944 at ceremonies attended by Rear Admiral Jules James, Commandant of the Sixth Naval District. The ship was launched on 30 June, 1945.

The USS Tidewater was built on a C-3 hull and was 492 feet in length with a beam of 70 feet, and a full load displacement of 17,500 tons. The ship was equipped with machine shops, carpentry and pipe shops and a complete foundry. The ship's propeller had 4 blades and a diameter of 21 feet, 8 inches with a shaft of 19 inches.

The primary mission of the Tidewater was one of service to the Fleet. Destroyer-type ships were assigned availability dates during which time repair and maintenance beyond the capacities of the ship's company were performed by the tender. Supplies of every description were available on the Tidewater as well as medical, dental and religious services.

When the Tidewater was placed in commission on 19 February, 1946, Captain Frank H. Ball was designated her first Commanding Officer. Successive Commanding Officers were Captain Harold S. Harnly, Captain John W. Ailes, III, Captain William . Watson, Captain Elias B. Mott, H. Captain Burton S. Hanson, Jr., Captain Alton E. Parker, Captain Clyde J. Vanarsdall, Jr., Captain Richard C. Latham, Captain William A. Hunt, Jr., and Captain Charles Clark.

During my tenure on the Tidewater (November, 1962 to September, 1965, the ship was commanded by Captain George M. Hawes, Captain Oscar D. MacMillan, Captain J. C. Spitler and Captain, J. W. Guidry.

The Tidewater's first assignment after commissioning was to Sub-Group Three of the Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet. While so assigned, the Tidewater was a part of the nation's insurance for survival should a conflict come and thus, was ready for early activation when the Korean Conflict occurred.

In October 1951, the ship reported to Commander Training Command, US Atlantic fleet for training in the Chesapeake Bay Area and subsequent assignment in February 1952 to Commander Destroyer Flotilla sponsored by NATO.

During February, 1953, the ship was deployed in the Caribbean Area to participate in Exercise SPRINGBOARD. She departed on her first Mediterranean Cruise in February 1954.

Such ports as Naples, Leghorn, Barcelona, Algeria, Palermo and Hyeres were among those visited. Returning to the Convoy Escort Piers in Norfolk, VA on 5 July, 1954, the Tidewater focused all available facilities toward her primary duty, maintaining destroyers in peak operating efficiency. In January 1955, the ship once again departed Norfolk on her second Mediterranean Cruise and was designated as Flagship for the Commander Service Force Sixth Fleet. Returning to Norfolk in July 1956, she resumed once again her primary duty of tending Destroyers.

The coveted Navy "E" was award to the Tidewater during fiscal year 1957.

The Tidewater again departed on Mediterranean deployment in October 1957 where she serviced and tended Sixth Fleet ships. She returned to her homeport of Norfolk and resumed destroyer tender duty in February, 1958.

The Engineering "E" was awarded to her for fiscal year 1959 through Battle Readiness Competition.

Tidewater entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for upkeep on 1 July 1959 until 5 September 1959. She then departed for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, returning in October 1959 to Norfolk to tend Destroyers until deployment to the Mediterranean on 14 March, 1960. Deployment of the Tidewater brought the ship again to Augusta Bay, Naples, Barcelona, and Palermo. The highlight of the cruise was a visit to the ship by Queen Fredericka of Greece. Completing a successful tour, the Tidewater was relieved and on 22 September headed back to Norfolk.

In 1961 brief trips to Florida and New York City interspersed periods of upkeep and repair.

The Tidewater's fifth Med cruise began in February, 1962 and ended in June 1962. During this deployment, divers successfully changed a destroyer's port propeller under water. Although this feat is not new or unusual, a 7.5 ton, 12 foot diameter propeller presents problems that few tenders have had to grapple with.

Upon returning to D & S Piers in Norfolk in June, 1962, the Tidewater resumed repair functions until November when she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul. This is when I joined her, when she was in dry-dock. Upon completion of the overhaul in February, 1963, a helicopter platform and associated spaces had been added.

The Engineering "E" was again awarded to the USS Tidewater for the fiscal year 1962 through Battle Readiness Competition.

After a cruise to San Juan, PR, and refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Tidewater returned to Norfolk in early April to resume tender repair functions.

October 1963 saw the Tidewater departing for another Med cruise. Barcelona, Naples, Toulon, and Aranci By, Sardinia were visited and 100,000 man hours were used in repairing other ships. Commander, Sixth Fleet sent a message commending the Tidewater for a job well done and by March 7, she was back in her home port at D & S Piers in Norfolk.

The Tidewater departed again for another Med cruise in April, 1965, staying the entire cruise in the harbor of Naples, Italy, except for the tender turnover periods which were accomplished in Palma de Mallorca. The ship returned to Norfolk once again in September, 1965.

The Tidewater continued on assignment after my departure from the Navy. She completed her 10th Mediterranean deployment on 2 May 1969. In August 1970, she received word that she would be decommissioned the following spring. She served as flagship for the Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 4, from 10 September until 13 November, at which time she began preparations for inactivation.

On 4 January, the United States Navy agreed to lease TIDEWATER to the Indonesian Navy upon decommissioning. Accordingly, when she was placed out of commission at Norfolk on 20 February 1971, she was turned over to the Indonesian Navy and recommissioned as DUMAI, Col. Mardianus Aruf in command.

Originally DUMAI (pennant number 562) was used as both a destroyer tender/depot ship and to maintain offshore drilling rigs. By 1976 or 77, most of her equipment had been removed and she was used as an accommodation ship for oil rig personnel. Purchased outright by Indonesia on 1 March 1980, DUMAI was deleted in 1984.

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