TheToughTender| INTERNET DECK
Welcome Aboard!
The official crew website for USS Shenandoah (AD 44) is a full-featured, high-tech, animated, interactive tribute to the ship, crew and adopted families from the Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah National Park for which she was named. The name “Shenandoah” — in the Native American language — means “Daughter of the Stars.” The ship and crew experienced many wonderful journeys under the stars during her 13-year service to the U.S. Navy.
Below are the site’s main features, which may also be accessed through the site’s header.
Before you begin your own “Journey Under the Stars”, a quick word on some of the Tough Tender’s special features to help you navigate are added for your convenience below:
“BIG EYES” (Zoom)
TheToughTender.com is conveniently outfitted with magnification features allowing visitors to zoom-in on the many extremely large, high-resolution (400 DPI) historic photographs and ship’s deck plans. Hover your mouse (or finger, if using a mobile device) over one of the large images for a few seconds and the magnifying glass will appear, allowing you to zoom-in on any portion of the image.
STOWAGE COMPARTMENTS
One thing is true of all U.S. Navy ships: they were all outfit with hundreds of stowage compartments; and so is TheToughTender.com. Opening a stowage compartment is easy. Click on the arrow to the far left to open and close the compartment when needed or wanted. Each is color-coded for ease of identification. Imagine you are a CPO performing a “Health & Comfort” inspection — just open it and take a look inside.
BLUE | NAVTRAWEBSYS
Blue stowage compartments contain just about anything; from training manuals, text, images; all things Navy, and can be found throughout the site. Some are opened intentionally, and you may close them at will. Others are closed, and you may open them if you wish to peek inside.
GOLD | Website Information & Quick Links
Gold stowage compartments contain information pertaining to TheToughTender.com website’s web pages and content. They also contain quick-links similar to the Wonkavator.
Please review the NAVSYSWONKTRA video below to review how the Wonkavator system works. It’s actually quite easy. Clicking on a quick-link will take you from where you are, to where you wish to go throughout the entire site within seconds.
NAVTRAWONKSYS V 1.0
LAVENDER | In Memoriam
In Memoriam stowage compartments contain memorial information for shipmates who have passed. This is an unhappy duty to perform, but the duty Yeoman will do what is necessary to honor SHENANDOAH’s fallen shipmates.
MEMBERSHIP ABOARD
Crew members and spouses/companions may also login and go below decks to the SSL-Encrypted Extranet application within. The Main Deck provides visual access to the entire ship, from bow to stern, and from the keel to the 03 level; a virtual tour of the ship. It also includes the ZOOM feature.
The Mess Deck contains the Ship’s Logs and Crew COMM system to allow the crew to reconnect within a private Social Media-type platform. It is a secured, scaled down version of the popular social media platform that rhymes with “Lace Hook.”
Main Deck Navigation Syetem 
Ships Logs & Crew COMM’s
We hope you enjoy your Journey under the Stars!
Agape.
TheToughTender.com’s Mission
MISSION | TheToughTender.com | Index…
The USS Shenandoah (AD 44) “Internet Deck” has been created to provide a beacon for her “Always Dynamite” crew members from Precommissioning to Decommissioning, and a hallmark celebration for the members of the Navy League, Shenandoah National Park, and citizens of the Shenandoah Valley who adopted the ship and crew…
- TheToughTender.com’s Mission
- Website Construction & Commissioning
- 1st Official Crew Website Archive
- Special Request Chit Form (Suggestion Box)
- Official “About” Page
SHENANDOAH’s Heritage
HERITAGE | USS Shenandoah (AD 44) | Index…
Each of the five ships named SHENANDOAH had many extraordinary journeys under the stars, and each performing their assigned duties with distinction. SHENANDOAH (AD 44)’s heritage dates back to 1863, and the officers and crew of (AD 44) are proud to share their heritage…
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44)’s Heritage
- SECNAV Ship’s Naming
- SHENANDOAH’s Coat of Arms
- SHENANDOAH’s Drill Team
- The 5 Ships Named Shenandoah
- USS Shenandoah Steamer Sloop
- CSS Shenandoah Steamer Sloop
- USS Shenandoah (ZR 1) Airship
- USS Shenandoah (AD 26) Destroyer Tender
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44) Destroyer Tender
- The Town of Shenandoah, Virginia
- The Town’s History
- Town Hall Museum for USS Shenandoah (AD 44)
- The Shenandoah Valley
- The Shenandoah National Park
- Destroyer Tender History (Coming Soon)
SHENANDOAH’s Proud History
HISTORY | USS Shenandoah (AD 44) | Index…
Fortis Pro Pace ~ “Strong For Peace
The mission of USS SHENANDOAH (AD 44) is to provide mobile, intermediate level maintenance support facilities, primarily for DD933 class destroyers, CGN class cruisers, and FFG7 class frigates; as well as other frigates, destroyers and cruisers, amphibious, auxiliary ships, patrol and support craft. This support includes shops, material and technical facilities for industrial repairs which do not require the level of support at a shipyard…
(click on a link below for more info)
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44)’s History
- Ship’s Mission
- Specifications
- Capabilities
- Awards
- Destroyer Tender (AD 44)
- Keel Laying
- Construction Photos
- Christening
- Launching
- Builder’s Trials
- Acceptance Trials & Turnover
- Precommissioning
- Mustering the Plankowner Crew
- Supply Mission
- L-28 PCU Shenandoah (AD 44) Unit Headquarters
- Command’s 1st I.M.A.V.
- Habitability Team
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44) Deck Plans
- SHENANDOAH’s First Naval Berth
- Official Commissioning Ceremony
- Arrival of the Balance II Crew
- Light-Off Examination
- Farewell San Diego
- C.O.’s Maiden Voyage Address
- SHENANDOAH’s “Worm-Dancers”
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44)’s Maiden Voyage
- Acapulco, Mexico
- Panama Canal, Rodman, Panama
- Order of the Ditch Certificate & Reproduction Request Form
- Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
- St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44)’s Home Port, Norfolk, VA
- Ceremonial Commissioning & Reception
- SHENANDOAH’s Commissioning eBook
- SHENANDOAH’s Plankowners & Certificate
- SHENANDOAH’s First Christmas
- SHENANDOAH’s Secret Santa
- Plankowner Certificate Reproduction Request Form
- Deployments
- Decommissioning Ceremony
- Ship’s Library (Updated Frequently)
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44) Press (Updated Frequently)
SHENANDOAH’s Crew
THE CREW | USS Shenandoah’s Crew from PRECOM to DECOM | Index…
The Ship’s Commemorative Coin
The Shenandoah’s Challenge coin was conceived by one of her crew, Senior Chief Joseph Tagliarino “Tag”; ships company 1991 to 1995. Senior Chief was assisted by his friend and digital graphic artist, Chief Paul Harris, Jr. The coin proofs were presented to the crew on 17 October 2020, and shortly thereafter orders were taken for the first minting.
- USS Shenandoah (AD 44) Commemorative Coin
- Coin Design & Minting
- Coin Information Request Form
- Official Coin Presentations
- SHENANDOAH Memorabilia (coming soon)
The Internet Deck| Crew & Spouse Boarding
If you are a registered crew member or spouse/companion of the site, get your ID ready and head to the Quarterdeck.
If you are not yet registered, you may obtain your free boarding pass by registering here. Crew spouses/companions are encouraged to register as “Ship’s Company” as well.
USS Shenandoah (AD 44) | Guestbook
All SHENANDOAH crew and honored guests are invited to sign the “Tough Tender’s” Guestbook and share your favorite memories of ship and crew.
TheToughTender.com website is owned and operated by ship’s company.
Please direct all inquiries to the duty Yeoman.