Most ships acquire nicknames during the course of their service. The Zuni acquired more than her fair share due to her varied and colorful history. Here they are: the good, the bad, and yes... the ugly!

The Mighty Z Her main Navy nickname when she was the USS Zuni. The nickname was also used by a lot of USCG crews as well. Automatic Trough Finder Her other Navy nickname, a play on her designation as ATF-95. Ramatoa Because of an "incident" with some barges in NY harbor. CG Submarine Because her sinking in drydock in March 1963. The Tam Self-explanatory. RONC Can't Hook It "Republic of Nantucket Cutter." The commanding officers or officers-in-charge of Coast Guard cutters that are assigned to or visit Nantucket play the "Ring Game" with the Nantucket Angler's Club for "ownership" of the cutter. If the skipper loses, then the Nantucket Angler's Club becomes the cutter's owner. The skipper is entitled to decide the newly acquired cutter's "RON" name. [It's all done in fun!] You Call, We Haul Not really a nickname, but appropriate. During a tug strike in New York harbor, she hauled sewage barges. NNGR: Nothing Never Goes Right A play off her call sign NNGR. Building 166 From her days in Staten Island. Tamarilla People always had a tough time pronouncing Tamaroa. Shark 166 The "covert" call sign during D7 patrols. Sinker Because of the misapprehension that every time she went out she tried to go down. The Bull or The Bull from the Sea Taken from a popular novel of the 60's about ancient Crete. This reflected her widely acknowledged towing abilities. The Galloping Ghost off the Jersey Coast In the 60's she spent an inordinate amount of time chasing the Russians away from McGuire AFB and a lot of her SAR patrol time was spent off New Jersey. The Damn Tam In the 60s she was the only white hulled work boat at Staten Island. She had to share the pier with the likes of the Campbell, Spencer, Dallas, Half Moon, Mackinac and Rockaway. The Barge For obvious reasons. Courtesy of Ron Horn, LT, USCG The Great White Needle of Death No idea but was used on board. Courtesy of Ron Horn, LT, USCG World's Fastest Swimming Pig or Fast Attack Pig From the times they used to send us in search of the "Mother Ship" at full bore. Courtesy of John Bullock, '86 to '91

If you have any other nicknames, or better explanations for the present ones we have up, please don't hesitate to drop us a line!