Construction of the USS YELLOWSTONE, Destroyer Tender 27, was authorized by Act of Congress on 10 August 1944, her keel being laid on 16 October of the same year at the Todd Pacific Shipyard in Seattle,  Washington. On 12 April 1945, she was christened the YELLOWSTONE in honor of the great national park by that name and launched at Seattle's Harbor Island. She was commissioned on 16 January 1946.

The YELLOWSTONE, a vessel of 14,500 tons displacement, was 492 feet long, with a beam of 69 feet, and a draft of 25 feet. She was driven at a maximum speed of 18 knots by a single screw through reduction gears powered by steam turbine supplied by two oil-fired boilers.

The nickname "Old Faithful" was bestowed on her as result of her never failing service performance, even under the most difficult and time pressing circumstances. Her exceptional competitive record is also evidenced by the Battle Efficiency Award presented to her in 1949 and 1950; for three successive years in 1953, 1954, and 1955, and again in 1957 and 1958, marking her as an outstanding Tender in the Atlantic Fleet. The many commendations received at home and abroad earned her the name and added to her reputation as "Queen of the Tenders".

Capable of carrying a complement of 800 officers and men, the YELLOWSTONE had served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet and on detached duty in the Mediterranean, where, by 1960, she had completed nine tours* while assuming additional duties in providing services for all types of ships from submarines to aircraft carriers.

Source: Cruise Book, Mediterranean Cruise '59/'60

*In all, YELLOWSTONE made 12 Mediterranean duty cruises.

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