The Type V ship is a United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) designation for World War IItugboats. Type V was used in World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Type V ships were used to move ships and barges. Type V tugboats were made of either steel or woodhulls. There were four types of tugboats ordered for World War II. The largest type V design was the sea worthy 186-foot (57 m) long steel hull, V4-M-A1. The V4-M-A1 design was used by a number of manufacturers; a total of 49 were built. A smaller steel hull tugboat was the 94-foot (29 m) V2-ME-A1; 26 were built. The largest wooden hull was the 148-foot (45 m) V3-S-AH2, of which 14 were built. The smaller wooden hull was the 58-foot (18 m) V2-M-AL1, which 35 were built. Most V2-M-AL1 tugboats were sent to the United Kingdom for the war efforts under the lend-lease act. The Type V tugs served across the globe during World War II including: Pacific War, European theatre, and in the United States. SS Farallon, and other Type V tugs, were used to help built Normandy ports, including Mulberry harbour, on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and made nine round trips to Normandy to deliver Phoenix breakwaters.[1][2]
Tugboats are used to maneuver vessels and barges by pushing or towing them. Tugs are needed to move vessels that either should not move by themselves, such as large ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal, or those that can not move by themselves, like as barges, disabled ships, or log rafts.[3] Tugboats are powerful for their small size and are strongly built. Early tugboats used steam engines, but most have diesel engines now. Many tugboats have firefighting water cannons, allowing them to assist in firefighting, especially in harbors. Some minesweepers like USS Vireo, USS Lark and USS Kingfisher were converted to ocean tugs for the war.
Sustainer, intended for the United Kingdom, as Atworth but sold to USSR
Compeller, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atherida, sold private 1948, scrapped
Dexterous, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Athelney, sold to Trinidad, 1945, to Caymans, 1948, scrapped 1951
Mighty, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atil, sold private 1948, scrapped
Secure, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Attigny, sold private 1948, scrapped 1955
Forthright, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Attock, to USN renamed YTB 610, to USSR 1944 renamed Forthright
Power, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atengo, sold to Italy, 1947 renamed Titano, scrapped 1974
Steadfast, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atako, wrecked and lost, 1944
Durable, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Ataran, to Italy, 1947, renamed Ciclope, scrapped
Spirited, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atolia, to Trinidad, 1948, to Caymans 1951, scrapped
Helper, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atoyac, to Italy, 1949, renamed Nereo
Resister, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atiamuri, sold to Italy, 1947, sold to Israel, 1954
Superb, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atwood, sold to Trinidad, 1948, sold to Caymans, 1951, scrapped
Robust, sold to the United Kingdom, renamed Atmore, sold private, 1948, scrapped
V2-M-AL1
Port Sewall class tug. Named for American ports. All but one tug went for Lend-Lease use, some serviced in the Mediterranean Sea in WW2. V2-M-AL1 were: Wood hull, 90 tons, beam 19 foot, diesel engine with 240 horsepower, fuel Oil: 1920 gallons. Built by Puget Sound SB, Standard SB, Steinbach IW, Eureka Shipbuilding, Arlington SB, Texas SB, Siletz BW, Blair Company, Marinette Marine and Texas SB.[33][34]
Port Sewall To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" Tug, USA. (YN 1563)
Port Kennedy To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" YN 1564
Port Reading To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" YN 1565
Port Costa To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" YN 1
Port San Luis To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" YN 2
Port Chicago To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" YN 3
Port Gamble To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" YN 4
Port Tobacco To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA" YN 5
Port Haywood To US Navy renamed YTL 718, sold private 1947 renamed Limpiar. (YTL= District Harbor Tug Small)[35]
Port Inglis To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Mayaca To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Orange To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Richey To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port St. Joe To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Tampa City To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Arthur To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Bolivar To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Lavaca To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Neches To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port O'Connor To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Sullivan To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Stanley To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Townsend To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Ewen To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Gibson To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Jefferson To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Leyden To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Austin To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Homer To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Hope To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Sanilac To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port William To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Wing To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Sulphur To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
Port Treverton To the United Kingdom as a "TUSA"
ATR-1-class rescue tug
ATR-1 class - Auxiliary Tug Rescue was a wooden-hulled rescue tug that was built by Wheeler SB, Northwest Shipbuilding, Frank L. Sample, Jakobson Shipyard, Camden SB, Lynch SB, and Fulton Shipyard in 1944 and 1945. The 89 ATR-1-class tugs serve during World War II in both Asiatic-Pacific Theater and the European theatre of World War II. 40 of ATR-1 class had a displacement of 852 tons light and 1,315 tons fully loaded. They had a length of 165 feet 6 inches (50.44 m), a beam of 33 feet 4 inches (10.16 m) and draft of 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m). Top speed of 12.2 knots (22.6 km/h; 14.0 mph). The largest boom had a capacity of 4 tons. They were armed with one 3-inch/50-caliber gun and two single Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The crew complement was five officers and 47 enlisted men. They had a fuel capacity of 1,620 bbl (258 m3). The propulsion was one Fulton Iron Works vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine with two Babcock and Wilcox "D"-type boilers with a single propeller creating 1,600 shp (1,200 kW). They had two turbo drive Ships Service Generators, rated at 60 kW 120 V D.C. Example is USS ATR-31.[36][37][38][39]
Cherokee-class tugboat
The Cherokee class of fleet tugboats, originally known as the Navajo class, were built for the US Navy for World War II with a displacement of 1,235 long tons (1,255 t). They had a length of 205 ft (62 m), a beam of 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m), a draft of 18 ft (5.5 m). Their propulsion was composed of a diesel-electric engine with one shaft creating 3,600 hp (2,700 kW) and a top speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). They were give the hull classification symbol of "AT" for "Auxiliary Tug". The tugs were built by Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, Charleston Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, and United Engineering Co. Example: USS Navajo.[40]
Abnaki-class tugboat
Abnaki-class tugboat were ocean fleet tugboats that were built for the US Navy for World War II with a displacement of 1,589 tons, a length of 205 ft 0 in (62.48 m), a beam of 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m), and a draft of 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m). They had a propulsion of: 4 × General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines, 4 × General Electric generators, 3 × General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, with a single screw of 3,600 shp (2,700 kW) and a top speed: 16.5 knots. Class ATF for Auxiliary Tug Fleet. Built by Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock. Example: USS Abnaki (ATF-96).[41]
Sotoyomo-class tugboat
Sotoyomo-class tugboat were tugboats that were built for the US Navy for World War II with a displacement of 534 long tons (543 t) light, 835 long tons (848 t) full, a length of 143 ft (44 m), a beam of 33 ft (10 m) and a draft of 13 ft (4.0 m). They had a propulsion of diesel-electric engine with a single screw and a top speed of 13 knots. Harbor tugs (YT) were named after American Indian tribes: Example tug is the USS Ontario (AT-13)[42][43]
Hisada class harbor tug is a subclass of Cahto-class district harbor tug. Hisada class harbor had the same design as the 260-ton Cahto-class district harbor tug.
Harbor tugs (YT) were named after American Indian tribes. Example tugs: USS Nabigwon (YTB-521) and USS Wabanquot (YTB-525).[48]
Small wood US Army MTL Harbor Tugboats, 14 model 324-A with a length of 47 feet, a beam of 12 feet. MTL is for Motor Towing Launch. The Army had built 1,251 marine tractors (MT) and marine tow launches (MTL) by 41 boatbuilders. MT tugs were either 26 feet or 36 feet (Design 329) in length and the MTL were 46 feet.[51]
US Army TP Harbor Tug with displacement 185 tons gross, a length of 96 feet, a beam 25 feet, a draft of 11 feet, Power one Fairbanks–Morse six cylinder diesel engine to a single propeller with 450 shp. The TP is for "Tug/Passenger". The US Army had 43 of this 96-foot tugs built for World War 2, Ackerman Boat Company` built 15 of them.[52][53][54][55]
US Army had built 170 of the 65-foot, diesel-powered, passenger / cargo boats. These could also be used as harbor tugs. These were known as tug-transports, or T-boats.[56]
RT tugs for River Tugs. Many were built by small shipyards builders for the U.S. Army. The RT tugs were built of steel or wood, or both. They were built with differt designs and length ranging from 39 ft (12 m) to 160 ft (49 m). RT-804 to 813; RT-804 to 813 and RT-899 to RT-903.[59]
Bagaduce-class tugboat WW1
Bagaduce-class tugboat were World War 1 tug boats used in World War 1 and World War 2. During World War 1 these were called YMT-Yard Motor Tug. Engineered with a displacement of 1,000 long tons (1,016 t) (normal) and a length of 156 ft 8 in (47.75 m), a beam of 30 ft (9.1 m) and a draft of 14 ft 7 in (4.45 m), with a top speed of 12.4 knots. USS Example USS Sagamore (AT-20).[60]
Arapaho-class fleet tug WW1
Arapaho-class fleet tug were World War 1 tug boats used in World War 1 and World War 2.
Engineered with a displacement of 575 tons and a length of 122 ft 6 in (37.34 m), a beam of 24 ft (7.3 m) and a draft of 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m), with a top speed of 11 knots.
Ships in class:
AT-14 Arapaho later renamed: YT-121 in 1936 then sold in 1937, renamed Evridiki in 1960, sold and renamed Faneromini in 1968. Scrapped in 1986.
AT-16 Tillamook later renamed YT-122 in 1936, renamed YTM-122 in 1944. Scrapped in 1947[61]
Canada Tugs
Modified Ocean Warrior-class Tugs built by Kingston Ship Builder in Kingston ON. GT of 233 tons, 105 feet long, Beam of 26.2' and Draft of 12.5' with 1000HP, max of 14 knots, Steel hull, built between 1945 and 1946.[62][63]
Rockglen
Rockforest
Rockpigeon
Rockdoe
Rockswift
Rockelm
Rockswift
Rockwing
Rockcliffe
Rockmount
Rockport
Rockland
Rockhill
Rockwood
Rockruby
Rockhawk
Rockthrush
Rockcrystal
Notable incidents
Sonoma tug sank off Dio Island in action at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines when an enemy bomber crashed into her on 24 October 1944.[64]
USS Pokagon (YT-274) sank near Green Cove Springs, Fla. after she capsized on 27 September 1947.[75]
USS Shahaka (YTB-368) sank after colliding with USS ABSD-2, a floating drydock, midway between the California coast and the Hawaiian Islands at 27° 21'N 136° 29'W in June 1944.[76]