U.S. Navy Service Craft

Although little known and mostly anonymous, members of the "Dungaree Navy" are irreplaceable contributors to the operations, maintenance and readiness of the U.S. battle force. They include a variety of tugboats, barges, floating dry docks, lighters and scores of other "blue collar" vessels, such as range tenders, floating derricks and ferries. Taken all together, the Navy's behind-the-scenes workhorses are collectively known as "service craft." With more than 500 photos, this unique book provides the histories and discusses the operations and characteristics of more than 4,000 ships, boats, and other craft in some 140 classifications and types that have served in the Navy as utility vessels from World War I to today. This comprehensive work includes such rare listings as drone aircraft catapult ships, light salvage lift craft, and radiological repair barges. In addition, readers will discover a virtual flotilla of houseboats, dredges, torpedo trials craft, and many other behind-the-scenes ships and boats.

Ken W. Sayers is a former naval officer who served on board a Pacific Fleet destroyer escort and in the Pentagon on the staff of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). An IBM veteran, he lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut.