Newly christened Navy transport is fourth ship named in honor of Yuma, Arizona

The U.S. Navy recently christened its newest Expeditionary Fast Transport, the USNS Yuma (EPF 8), named in honor of Yuma, Arizona, in recognition of the city’s historically close ties with the military.

"The christening of USNS Yuma is not only a celebration of the city of Yuma's long-standing partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps -- a relationship that will now be highlighted for decades to come as this ship operates around the globe — but also of the Department of the Navy's partnership with the incredibly skilled men and women who have worked so hard to build this great ship," Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said.

EPF 8 is the fourth ship named for Yuma, the first being a tug that was sold in 1921. Following that, a Navajo-class fleet tug inherited the name when it was commissioned in 1943 and went on to earn two battle stars in World War II and a further two in Korea before being transferred to Pakistan in 1959. The most recent Yuma ship was a Chicopee-class medium harbor tug used between 1964 and 1976.

The newest USNS Yuma, ceremonially christened by former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano with the traditional breaking of a bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship, is a shallow draft, aluminum catamaran designed to transport 600 short tons of military cargo 1,200 nautical miles.