The Cherokee class, originally known as the Navajo class, was a class of Fleet Tugs built for the United States Navy prior to the start of World War II. They represented a radical departure from previous ocean-going tug designs, and were far more capable of extended open ocean travel than their predecessors. This was due in large part to their 205 feet (62 m) length, 38 feet (12 m) beam, and substantial fuel-carrying capacity. They were also the first large surface vessels in the US Navy to be equipped with diesel/electric drive.
USS Navajo (AT-64) was the lead ship of her class. She was named for the Navajo people. Navajo was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Staten Island, New York, on 12 December 1938; launched on 17 August 1939; sponsored by Miss Olive Rasmussen; and commissioned on 26 January 1940, Lt. Comdr. M. E. Thomas in command.
Following the loss of the first two ships of the class, Navajo and Seminole, the class was renamed from its original name of Navajo-class to Cherokee-class.
The Navajo was en route to San Diego from Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, and was 12 miles outside the Pearl Harbor entrance when the attack occurred. She immediately reversed course once news broke of the attack, and became a critical element of salvage and rescue operations there, as did her sister ship Seminole, in the days following.
Navajo then operated in the South Pacific until 12 December 1942 when she was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-39 while towing gasoline barge YOG-42 150 miles east of Espiritu Santo, 12 December 1943 with the loss of all but 17 of her crew of 80. She earned 2 battle stars for her WWII service.
Features:
Included are the main USS Navajo figure, and 3 smart-propped versions of the Anchors (all anchors up, single anchor lowered, and all anchors lowered). Optionally the Anchors may be left out for replacement by other props (such as the available "easy pose" chains and extra items of that nature available from many sources)...
Pose-able features include: working Rudder and Propellers, Main and Secondary Gun Turrets that can rotate with Barrels that can elevate independently, working Deck Crane, and functioning Spot-lights.
Original model by Chris Schell and uploaded for sale here with permission.
Software: Poser 6, Poser 7+, Poser 8 / Poser Pro 2010+
