was in the Philippines at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, and after investigating smuggling in the Ryūkyūs, sailed to Korea, where she performed combat salvage and air sea rescue missions beginning with the 15 September Inchon landings. In mid-October she rounded the peninsula, extending those services to Wonsan. Target towing missions in Japan and between Guam and Pearl Harbor completed this tour, and she arrived in San Diego, California, 12 August 1951. Mataco began her next western Pacific deployment on 10 January 1952 and during the next 14 months supported United Nations forces in Korea, in October twice rendering fire support at Pippa Kotsu. The next year she reported for three continuous years of Far Eastern service, and from 1956 to 1966, made five additional U.S. 7th Fleet cruises as well as serving in Alaskan waters for four extended periods. Vietnam War operations On 29 February 1967 she began a tour which brought her for the first time to the coast of embattled Vietnam. On 21 April Mataco brought YFR-890 in tow to Vũng Tàu, and in May took up fishing trawler surveillance on Yankee Station. After towing a damaged LST from Da Nang to Guam in July, she trained Korean navy men in salvage in Chinhae, then returned San Diego on 6 November. In March 1968 the Mataco began her second West-Pac tour towing the YD-91 floating crane to Guam. On to Subic and pick up a floating hospital barge to tow to Danang. Then on to Yankee Station to provide specialized electronic cover with the 7th Fleet. An at sea mishap caused the loss of radar capabilities and shortened the time on station. After repairs, Mataco went into the upper reaches of the Saigon River in the vicinity of Nhà Bè to tow the mined to Yokosuka, Japan. Operating from Yokosuka she participated in the rescue of the and . She was also on standby to act as the rescue tug for the captured USS Pueblo, had the decision been made to recapture the spy ship. When the stand-by duty was competed, trailing two tows she sailed back to Da Nang and Nhà Bè. After delivering them she headed for Sattahip Thailand. She provided for launch and retrieve and savage services for the Royal Thai Navy. The crew offered up the new designation: CV-AFT-86. In 1967 and 1968, the Mataco earned the Commander's Service Force,