USS Lipan (AT-85)

USS Lipan (AT-85) was a sclass|Navajo|fleet tug constructed for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus “other duties as assigned.” She served in the Pacific Ocean and after successful support of World War II and the Korean War, her crew returned home proudly displaying two battle stars for World War II and four battle stars for their efforts during the Korean War.

"Lipan" was laid down 30 May 1942 by United Engineering Co., San Francisco, California; launched 17 September 1942; sponsored by Miss Jean Kell; and commissioned 29 April 1943, Lt. F. W. Beyer in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

After shakedown in Puget Sound and San Francisco, California, harbor duty, the new oceangoing tug departed with three lighters for the New Hebrides and arrived Espiritu Santo 2 October. She towed war equipment and supplies from Espiritu Santo to the new base at Guadalcanal until 20 November. Transferring to Guadalcanal 6 December, "Lipan" was redesignated ATF-85 (fleet ocean tug) on 13 April and operated in the Solomons during the first half of 1944.

Supporting the invasion of Saipan

"Lipan" departed Guadalcanal 4 June with Rear Admiral Riefsnider’s Southern Transport Attack Group for the scheduled assault on Guam. When the invasion of Guam was postponed by the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the ship joined Service Squadron 10 at Eniwetok 3 July supporting the invasion of Saipan. Departing 8 July with barge in tow, she arrived Saipan 15 July and remained under constant enemy fire until 20 July, then rejoined Admiral Riefsnider’s group at Agat Bay, Guam, on D-Day 21 July. During the 2 weeks of fierce fighting after D-Day, "Lipan" rescued landing craft grounded by the treacherous surf ringing Agat Bay. Once the U.S. Marines had gained a foothold, the tug towed supply ships bringing in reinforcements to liberate the island and transform Guam into an advanced base for the Philippine campaign.

upporting Leyte operations

Returning to Eniwetok 30 September, she sailed for Ulithi with two boats in tow on 12 October, arrived the 20th, and performed ready tow service to aid the ships liberating Leyte. Taking USS Houston (CL-81) in tandem tow with tug USS Arapaho (ATF-68) the ship sailed 14 December for Manus and arrived 21 December. Dropping the tow, she immediately set course for home and made San Francisco 9 January 1945.

Supporting Okinawa operations

After overhaul "Lipan" departed for Okinawa 24 February dropped fuel barges at Pearl Harbor and Guam, and arrived 1 May. Three days later, as the Japanese intensified the suicide attacks in a costly but futile campaign to hold Okinawa, the tug undertook salvage and firefighting duties. For 21⁄2 months, as the savage attacks continued, "Lipan" salvaged and rescued damaged Navy ships off the beaches of Okinawa.

Under attack by kamikaze aircraft

The ship’s closest brush with disaster came late afternoon 21 June. While she was towing the already salvaged USS Barry (APD-29) to Ie Shima escorted by LSM-59, two suicide aircraft attacked the convoy. One immediately crashed and sank LSM-59. The second barely missed "Lipan" and crashed Barry which sank the next day. The tug made Ie Shima and returned to Okinawa the 25th.

End-of-war operations

With Okinawa nearly secure, the ship departed for overhaul at Leyte 18 July and arrived 1 August. Overhaul completed after V-J Day, she departed for a supposedly peaceful run to Okinawa, 23 September, with two boats in tow.

Damaged in a typhoon

While "Lipan" was en route 30 September a typhoon with convert|50|ft|adj=on seas and winds over convert|100|kn|km/h battered the tug with 55° rolls, snapping the tow, and starting a fire which destroyed the propulsion panel and the lower motor room. After riding out the storm, she made Subic Bay 7 October. Following extensive repairs, "Lipan" sailed for San Francisco 3 December and arrived Christmas Day.

Post-war activity

During the postwar years, "Lipan" towed gasoline barges, landing craft, disabled submarines, floating drydocks, and target sleds in operations off the U.S. West Coast and in the western Pacific.

Korean War operations

With the outbreak of the Korean war, "Lipan" departed Long Beach, California, for the Orient 20 June 1950. The tug arrived Yokosuka, Japan, 15 July and shoved off that afternoon to deliver mail and medical supplies to Task force TF 90 in Korean waters. She called at Hoko Ko, Korea (18 July – 24 July) and returned for harbor services at Yokosuka until 5 September. She then steamed with TF 90 for Inchon Harbor for the brilliant flanking amphibious assault.

As the landing forces swept ashore and caught the North Koreans completely by surprise, the tug cast off her pontoon tows, and began various towing and salvage assignments. A month later she was relieved at Inchon and steamed for Pusan en route to duty along the east coast of Korea. Arriving Iwon Harbor near Wonsan 1 November "Lipan" planted channel buoys, retracted 23 damaged LSTs from the beach, and recovered lost anchors in Wonsan Harbor, then steamed north and laid buoys at Hungnam Harbor and Songjin Harbor. Returning to Wonsan 26 November, she left the next day for Sasebo, Japan, and arrived the 30th. For the next 2 months the tug towed Army pontoon barges from Inchon to Taechon, Korea, or back to Sasebo. She sailed from Sasebo to Yokohama 16 February with SS Cecil N. Bean in tow, and steamed independently for Pearl Harbor the 18th, arriving 1 March. After a 3-month overhaul and towing missions to the Marshall Islands and Subic Bay, she departed Hawaii 26 November for a 6-month tour of duty at Apra Harbor, Guam, then returned to Pearl Harbor 9 June 1952. For the next 11 months she again operated between Hawaii and the Marshalls. On 2 May 1953 the tug left Pearl Harbor for towing duty between Sasebo and various Korean ports such as Inchon, Pusan, and Wonsan. She returned to Hawaii 19 November.

Post-Korean War activity

Based at Pearl Harbor from 1954 on, the tug has continued, into 1969, to meet the towing and salvage needs of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from the west coast to the western Pacific.

Assigned to the Military Sealift Command

She was assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) in 1972 and placed in service as USNS "Lipan" (T-ATF-85).

On loan to the Coast Guard

"Lipan" was placed out of service, circa 1980, and transferred on loan to the U.S. Coast Guard. She was commissioned, USCGC Lipan (WMEC-85) on 30 September 1980 and served the Coast Guard until she was decommissioned, 31 March 1988 and returned to U.S. Naval custody.

Decommissioning

"Lipan" was struck from the Naval Register 23 January 1989 and sunk as a target on 22 January 1990.

Awards

"Lipan" received two battle stars for World War II service and four battle stars for Korean service.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* World War II
* Tugboat

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/39/39085.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AT-85 / ATF-85 Lipan - WMEC-85 Lipan]