USS Tonkawa (AT-176)

USS Tonkawa (AT-176) was a "Sonoma"-class fleet tug which had the distinction of serving her country during World War II. She served the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the war, and, afterwards, served the Military Sea Transportation Service as "USNS Tonkawa" (T-AKA-176).

The first Tonkawa to bear the name, she was laid down as "ATR-103" on 30 January 1944 at Orange, Texas, by the Levingston Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 1 March 1944; sponsored by Mrs. R. F. Parker; redesignated "ATA-176" on 15 May 1944; and commissioned on 19 August 1944, Lt. (jg.) Ralph T. Crane, USNR, in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

After a brief shakedown cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, the auxiliary ocean tug stood out of Galveston, Texas, on 22 September bound, via Miami, Florida, for the Panama Canal Zone. She arrived at Colon on 4 October and departed Balboa on the 20th for the South Pacific Ocean. "ATA-176" called at Borabora and Manus before anchoring in Milne Bay, New Guinea, on 20 December.

Supporting Philippine Islands invasion

Assigned to the Service Force, Pacific Fleet, the tug got underway on 30 December 1944 for Hollandia and arrived on 5 January 1945. She took "Etamin" (IX-173) in tow and sortied with a convoy for the Philippines on the 10th. She arrived at San Pedro Bay on the 22d and returned to Humboldt Bay on 12 February. During the next eight months, "ATA-176" operated between ports in New Guinea, Emirau, Morotai, Borneo, and various Philippine islands. On 20 October 1945, the auxiliary tug stood out of Manila to search for a U.S. Army barge that had been reported adrift to the northwest. She found the barge on the 26th and towed it to Okinawa. "ATA-176" then returned to Manila Bay on 5 November 1945.

Post-war activity

After operations in the Philippines, she called at Guam in April 1946 and left Apra Harbor on 2 May towing "AFD-3" to Midway Island. She delivered her charge there on the 15th and headed for the United States. The tug arrived at San Francisco, California, on 1 June and remained at the Naval Supply Depot, Oakland, California, with a crew supplied by the 12th Naval District until 30 June 1947. On that day, "ATA-176" was decommissioned and placed "in service," manned by a civilian crew. On 16 July 1948, the ship was named "Tonkawa".

Service as USNS Tonkawa

"Towkawa" served in the 12th Naval District until 8 May 1956 when she was placed out of service, in reserve.

Final decommissioning

"Tonkawa" was struck from the Navy list on 1 August 1961. She was transferred to Taiwan in April 1962 under the Security Assistance Program (SAP) and renamed ROCS Ta-Sueh (ATA-547). Her final fate is not known.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* World War II

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/38/38176.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - ATR-103 / ATA-176 Tonkawa]