{{Short description|AFDM-3-class dry dock of the United States Navy}} {{other ships|USS Sustain (AM-119)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image =USS Sustain (AFDM-7).jpg | image_caption = USS ''AFDM-7'' and {{USS|Nantahala|AO-60}} }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = United States | flag = {{shipboxflag|United States|naval}} | name = ''Sustain'' | namesake = Sustain | ordered = | awarded = | builder = Everett Pacific Shipbuilding Co. | original_cost = | yard_number = | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = | sponsor = | christened = | completed = | acquired = 1 January 1945 | commissioned = 1945 | decommissioned = 1 August 1997 | reclassified =AFDM-7, 1946 | struck = 30 January 2007 | reinstated = | homeport = *Melville (1972-1974) *Norfolk (1974-1997) | identification = *Callsign: NCDE *{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Charlie}}{{ICS|Delta}}{{ICS|Echo}} *Hull number: YFD-63 | honors = ''See Awards'' | captured = | fate = *Transferred to Atlantic Marine, 1999 *Sold to Atlantic Marine, 2008 | status = Operational in Jacksonville, Florida }}
|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class =''AFDM-3''-class floating drydock | displacement ={{convert|8,000|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} | length ={{convert|622|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} | beam ={{convert|124|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}} | draft ={{convert|6|ft|m|abbr=on}} | propulsion = | speed = | power = | range = | complement =4 officers, 139 enlisted | capacity = }} }}
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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=29 February 2008|title=''Sustain'' (AFDM 7)|url={{Naval Vessel Register URL|AFDM-7}} |access-date=8 February 2022|website=Naval Vessel Register}}</ref>
== Construction and career == ''YFD-63'' was built by the Everett Pacific Shipbuilding Co., in Everett, Washington in 1945. ''Melucta'' with ''YFD-63'' in tow departed Everett for Moore Dry Dock Co., Alameda, on 23 January 1945. She would be commissioned later in 1945 after her delivery to the Navy on 1 January.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock (ARD)|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/09/28/2857.htm|access-date=2022-02-08|website=NavSource}}</ref>
On 1 August 1946, the dry dock was re-designated as AFDM-7.<ref name=":1" />
On 28 October 1950, the dry dock would be on commercial lease.<ref name=":1" /> In 1956, ''AFDM-7'' was towed through the Panama Canal and leased to Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company.<ref name=":1" />
In October 1971, the Navy would reacquire the dry dock as the lease was over.<ref name=":1" /> ''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}} was dry docked inside ''AFDM-7'' at Melville.<ref name=":1" /> towed to Norfolk in April 1974 and later stationed at Norfolk from 1974 until 1997. On 7 June 1979, the dry dock was finally named ''Sustain''.<ref name=":1" />
In 1984, {{USS|Arthur W. Radford|DD-968}} subsequently undergone sea trials and repairs inside ''Sustain''.<ref>{{Cite DANFS |title=Arthur W. Radford|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/arthur-w-radford.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226045925/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/arthur-w-radford.html|url-status=live|archive-date=26 February 2019|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref> From 4 September until 9 October 1984, {{USS|Ainsworth|FF-1090}} completed work inside ''Sustain'' at Norfolk.<ref>{{Cite DANFS |title=Ainsworth (FF-1090)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/ainsworth.html|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref>
{{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.<ref>{{Cite DANFS |title=Kidd II (DDG-993)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kidd-ii.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115120407/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kidd-ii.html|url-status=live|archive-date=15 November 2019|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref> ''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 Gulf Stream until taken under control by salvage team and towed to Bermuda. Finally arrived at Jacksonville on 24 February 2000.<ref name=":1" /> ''Sustain'' was struck from the Naval Register on 30 January 2007 and later sold outright to Atlantic Marine on 29 February 2008.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
In May 2010, Atlantic Marine was acquired by BAE Systems renamed BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards.<ref name="us2010">{{cite news|last=Hoyos|first=Carola|date=2010-09-11|title=BAE prepares to streamline US business|newspaper=The Financial Times}}</ref><ref name="bizjournal">{{cite news |last=Szakonyi|first=Mark|date=May 18, 2010|title=BAE to buy Atlantic Marine for $352M|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/05/17/daily13.html|work=Jacksonville Business Journal|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-07-31|title=Two BAE shipyards win Navy contracts|url=https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/two-bae-shipyards-win-navy-contracts/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Marine Log|language=en-US}}</ref> On 29 March 2019, {{USS|Detroit|LCS-7}} was dry docked for repairs inside of the former ''Sustain''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=190329-N-QI061-037|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5235081/190329-n-qi061-037|access-date=2022-02-08|website=DVIDS|language=en}}</ref>
== Awards ==
* American Campaign Medal * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal * World War II Victory Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{navsource|09/28/2857}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sustain (AFDM-7)}} Category:World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Category:Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States Category:Floating drydocks of the United States Navy Category:1945 ships Category:Ships built in Everett, Washington