USS Seminole (AT-65)
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| History | |
|---|---|
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| Name: | USS Seminole |
| Builder: | Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, New York City |
| Laid down: | 16 December 1938 |
| Launched: | 15 September 1939 |
| Commissioned: | 8 March 1940 |
| Struck: | 2 December 1942 |
| Honors and awards: |
1 battle star (World War II) |
| Fate: | Sunk during action off Tulagi, 25 October 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Navajo-class fleet tug |
| Displacement: | 1,500 long tons (1,524 t) |
| Length: | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Beam: | 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m) |
| Draft: | 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m) |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement: | 80 |
| Armament: | 1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun |
USS Seminole (AT-65), the third ship named Seminole of the United States Navy, was a Navajo-class fleet tug whose task was to travel with the fleet and provide towing services as required.
Seminole was laid down on 16 December 1938 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Staten Island, New York; launched on 15 September 1939; sponsored by Miss Grace Svenningsen, daughter of the Foreman Carpenter at the Staten Island Yard; and commissioned on 8 March 1940, Lt. Comdr. William G. Fewel in command.
Following shakedown along the U.S. East Coast, Seminole steamed for San Diego, California, and towing operations along the U.S. West Coast, and around Hawaii, Wake Island, and to the Panama Canal.
On one such trip, Seminole departed Pearl Harbor en route to San Diego. At 1317 on 7 December 1941, however, the ocean-going tug sounded general quarters, reversed her course, and anchored at Pearl Harbor on the 12th.
With her sister ship, USS Navajo (AT-64), the Seminole operated in Pearl Harbor during the busy, hectic days following the Japanese attack. On 15 February 1942, however, Seminole embarked a salvage team and departed Pearl Harbor for Canton Island where, from 21 February to 24 March 1942, she assisted in unsuccessful salvage operations for the grounded Army transport ship, SS President Taylor, which was eventually abandoned on the coral reef (and removed in the 1950s). On 24 March 1942, she reembarked her divers; took the fleet tug Sonoma (AT-12) in tow; and steamed (under her diesel-electric power) for Pearl Harbor. Arriving on 31 March 1942, she remained in the harbor on channel escort duty until 31 May 1942, when she commenced salvage operations on patrol craft YP-108 off nearby Wahie Point, Lanai. Three days later Seminole returned to Pearl Harbor.
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