- USS Seminole (AT-65)
USS "Seminole" (AT-65), the third ship named "Seminole" by the 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 theBethlehem Steel Co.,Staten Island, New York ; launched on15 September 1939 ; sponsored by Miss Grace Svenningsen, daughter of the Foreman Carpenter at the Staten Island Yard; and commissioned on8 March 1940 , Lt. Comdr. William G. Fewel in command.East Coast operations
Following shakedown along the
U.S. East Coast , "Seminole" steamed forSan Diego, California , and towing operations along theU.S. West Coast , and aroundHawaii ,Wake Island , and to thePanama Canal .World War II Pacific Theatre operations
On one such trip, "Seminole" departed
Pearl Harbor en route to San Diego. At 1317 on7 December 1941 , however, the ocean-going tug soundedgeneral quarters , reversed her course, and anchored at Pearl Harbor on the 12th. With her sister ship, USS|Navajo|AT-52, "Seminole" operated in Pearl Harbor during the busy, hectic days following the Japanese attack. On15 February 1942 , however, "Seminole" embarked a salvage team and departed Pearl Harbor forCanton Island where, from21 February to24 March , she assisted in salvage operations for the grounded Army transport, "USAT President Taylor". On the 24th, she reembarked her divers; took USS|Sonoma|AT-12 in tow; and steamed for Pearl Harbor. Arriving on31 March , she remained in the harbor on channel escort duty until31 May , when she commenced salvage operations on patrol craft, "YP-108", off nearbyWahie Point ,Lanai . Three days later, she returned to Pearl Harbor.Sailing to the South Pacific
On
4 June , the ocean tug got underway forMidway Island . Arriving on10 June , she took USS|Vireo|AM-52 in tow and delivered her to Pearl Harbor on the 17th. Repairs and further channel escort duty followed; then, on15 August , she got underway. Moving south and west, "Seminole" anchored inSuva Harbor,Fiji Islands , on the 26th; continued on the next day to theTonga Islands ; anchored atTongatapu on the 29th; and commenced channel escort duty in NukuOkinaalofa anchorage, Tongatapu. She continued her escort duties at Tongatapu until8 October .Battle action at Tulagi
"Seminole" arrived off
Tulagi on18 October , where she was assigned to ferry ammunition, gasoline, and troops. On the morning of25 October , "Seminole" and "YP-284" were unloading aviation gasoline,howitzer s, andU.S. Marines about three and one-half miles east ofLunga Point when three enemy destroyers appeared to the northwest. The smaller vessels immediately got underway, heading eastward in hopes of avoiding the enemy fire. The enemy, after breaking contact with two Americandestroyers , changed course and pursued the slower "Seminole" and "YP-284". The first shells to hit "Seminole" did so at about 1115, and were followed by two more hitting salvos.Abandoning ship
The order to abandon the burning, sinking ship was given at 1120, minutes after "YP-284" went under, and "Seminole" sank about 1,000 yards off-shore between
Lengo and the point to the east. Since the majority of the enemy projectiles had passed through her thin-skinned sides without exploding, "Seminole" lost only one crew member in the action. "Seminole" was struck from theNavy list on2 December 1942 .Military awards and honors
"Seminole" received one
battle star forWorld War II service.References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/39/39065.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AT-65 Seminole]
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