USS Seneca (AT-91)

USS "Seneca" (AT-91) was a sclass2|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 Atlantic Ocean performing various tasks.

"Seneca" was laid down at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 7 September 1942 by the Cramp Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 2 February 1943; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 30 April 1943, Lt. Herman B. Conrad commanding.

World War II North Atlantic operations

The tug completed fitting out and post-commissioning availability on 19 May and departed for trials, drills, and calibrations in the Delaware Bay. Three days later, she cleared the Delaware Capes and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, for shakedown training. "Seneca" next stood out of Norfolk on 18 June, towing a target raft to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. From 27 June until 7 July, she conducted anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training in the Guantanamo Bay operating area; then she headed for Trinidad to begin a tour of duty with the U.S. 4th Fleet.

Rescuing German U-boat survivors

For the next 21 months, "Seneca" was assigned target towing, general rescue, and salvage duties in the waters off the coast of Brazil. During one of her early rescue missions, "Seneca" captured two survivors of a German U-boat sunk by Allied ASW patrols.

"Seneca" was re-designated ATF-91 on 15 May 1944. On 9 April 1945, she departed Bermuda for Norfolk with a dual tow. Upon arrival, she entered the Norfolk Navy Yard for overhaul. On 25 May 1945, she cleared Norfolk for a tour of duty at Port Everglades, Florida, and Key West, Florida, with the Surface Group of the Antisubmarine Development Detachment. She towed targets and recovered torpedoes until her departure from Key West on 19 February 1946. "Seneca" towed a large floating crane to Philadelphia, arrived on the 26th, and later shifted to Norfolk for overhaul.

Post-war operations

Following overhaul, "Seneca" commenced 25 years of operations out of Norfolk and Little Creek, Virginia. Her routine during this time consisted of target towing, rescue and salvage work, and ship towing; most often these were reserve ships moving from one berthing area to another or former Navy ships to be sunk as targets. Her sphere of operations consisted of the Atlantic seaboard, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. She spent much of her career in the Guantanamo Bay area and in the British West Indies, but also frequented the New England, Canadian, and Greenland coasts. On one occasion, she even made a tow to Reykjavík, Iceland.

Between 1946 and 1971, "Seneca" only ventured out of the western Atlantic three times. On 1 May 1961, she departed Mayport, Florida, with "AFBD-7" in tow and made Holy Loch, Scotland, a month later. Leaving her charge at Holy Loch, "Seneca" sailed to Penzance, England, on 5 June. She stood out of Penzance on the 13th and arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on the 24th. In the summer of 1964, she participated in the tow of USS|Oak Ridge|ARMD-1|2 and "YFNB-36" from Norfolk to Rota, Spain. She sailed to the Mediterranean in 1966 for a five-month deployment with the U.S. 6th Fleet after which she resumed her normal routine in the western Atlantic.

Decommissioning

Decommissioned in July 1971, "Seneca" was transferred to the Maritime Administration on 18 November 1971 for lay up with the James River Group, National Defense Reserve Fleet, Fort Eustis, Virginia. She was struck from the Navy Vessel Register on 30 October 1985 and disposed of as a target, 21 July 2003.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Tugboat

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/39/39091.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AT-91 / ATF-91 "Seneca"]