USS Lykens (AT-56)

USS "Lykens" (SP-876/AT-56) was a steam tugboat purchased from the Reading Company by the United States Navy in 1917. Because she was privately built, she was not of a ship class. She was the only U.S. Navy ship of this name.

The ship served on the East Coast, in Bermuda, and in the Azores during World War I. After the war, she operated from New York and Norfolk, Virginia until decommissioning in 1922. She was considered one of the most powerful tugs in the Navy during her career.cite news | url = http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E07EED7113FEE3ABC4953DFB366838A639EDE | format = pdf | title = SUBMARINE ASHORE, BUT IS REFLOATED | work = The New York Times | date = 1921-05-01 | accessdate = 2008-03-03 | page = 10 ] "Lykens" was sold in 1934.

History

"Lykens" was built in 1899 by Neafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia for the Reading Company.

On 17 September 1903, "Lykens" rescued the captain of tug "Spartan" which had sunk the previous night in a gale off Lewes, Delaware. [cite news | url = http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B04E1DD1439E433A2575BC1A96F9C946297D6CF | format = pdf | title = RESCUE OF SPARTAN'S MEN | work = The New York Times | date = 1903-09-18 | accessdate = 2008-03-03 | age = 14 ]

A storm on 10 January 1911 caused coal barges "Treverton", "Corbin", and "Pine Forest", under tow by "Lykens", to break free of the tow near the Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse. The 12 men crewing "Treverton" and "Corbin" were drowned when their barges broke up within an hour. The five men aboard "Pine Forest" were all drowned when their lifeboat was swamped in the rough surf. "Lykens" and local lifesavers watching from the shore were helpless to provide any assistance because of the severity of the storm. [cite news | title = LIFE SAVERS SEE 17 DROWN | work = Chicago Daily Tribune | date = 1911-01-11 | page = 7 ] Despite the accident, "Lykens" remained a frequent visitor to ports in New England. [See "Shipping News" in the "Christian Science Monitor" on 3 July 1912, 2 June 1914, 10 August 1914, 17 August 1914, and 7 October 1915, for example.]

On 4 February 1917, "Lykens" was inspected by the 4th Naval District of the U.S. Navy. [cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-l/lykens.htm | title = "Lykens" (Tug, 1899), Served as USS "Lykens" (SP-876, later AT-56) in 1917-1934 | work = Online Library of Selected
United States Navy | date = 2004-09-16 | accessdate = 2008-03-03 ] After the U.S. had entered World War I, "Lykens" was purchased by the Navy on 18 September 1917. She was commissioned USS "Lykens" (SP-876) on 10 November 1917 at Philadelphia, Lt. (jg.) H. G. Robinson, USNRF, in command.

"Lykens" performed towing duties along the east coast, to Bermuda, and the Azores throughout World War I. On 24 February 1918, "Lykens", along with USS|Wadena|SP-158|2, USS|Mariner|SP-1136|2 and USS|Yacona|SP-617|2 set sail from Newport, Rhode Island, rendezvousing with eleven convert|110|ft|m|adj=on submarine chasers en route. Though "Mariner" foundered and sank along the journey, all the other ships arrived at Bermuda on 1 March.cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w1/wadena.htm | title = "Wadena" | work = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Navy | date = | accessdate = 2008-03-03 ] On 15 April, "Lykens" set sail from Bermuda in the company of "Wadena", seven submarine chasers, and United States Army tug "Knickerbocker", arriving at Ponta Delgada in the Azores on 27 April.

After the war she was assigned to district towing and auxiliary operations, out of the 3d (New York) and 5th (Norfolk) Naval Districts. "Lykens" continued these duties until she decommissioned at New York 23 March 1920.

She recommissioned as AT‑56 17 June 1920, Lt. G. Freudendorf in command, and served as a fleet tug in the 3d Naval District out of New York.

On 30 April 1921 "Lykens" and Coast Guard Cutter USCGC|Acushnet|1908|2 were dispatched to assist submarine USS|O-10|SS-71|2 that had grounded off Montauk Point in Block Island Sound. "Lykens" and "Acushnet" were delayed by heavy fog and did not reach the stranded sub before the tide lifted it from its perch.

In late 1921 the engines from the Navy’s four Lake Torpedo Boat-built "N"-class submarines were removed to be installed in more modern "L"-class submarines. In early 1922, "Lykens" got the call to tow three of the engineless subs from New London, Connecticut, to Philadelphia for decommissioning and scrapping. She towed USS|N-7|SS-59|2 in late January, USS|N-6|SS-58|2 in February, and USS|N-5|SS-57|2 in April. [cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n1/n-5.htm | title = "N-5" | work = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Navy | date = | accessdate = 2008-03-03 ] [cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n1/n-5.htm | title = "N-6" | work = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Navy | date = | accessdate = 2008-03-03 ] [cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n1/n-5.htm | title = "N-7" | work = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Navy | date = | accessdate = 2008-03-03 ]

"Lykens" was decommissioned on 9 December 1922 and kept in reserve until 3 February 1934, when she was sold to Northern Metal Co. of Philadelphia. Her ultimate fate is unknown.

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