USS Avoyel (ATF-150)
Encyclopedia
USS Avoyel (ATF-150) was an built for the United States Navy
during World War II
. She was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Avoyel was laid down 25 March 1944 by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Charleston, South Carolina
; launched on 9 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. George E. Goodman; and commissioned at Charleston Navy Yard on 8 January 1945, Lieutenant Commander William R. Brown in command.
, the tug reported to Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia
, for post-shakedown availability. Upon completion of the yard period, the tug was ordered to proceed to the Hudson River
, which had frozen to a depth of two to three feet. Though not designed as an icebreaker, Avoyel was able to clear a path to Long Island
so that ammunition barges could be moved down the river. When this assignment was finished, the vessel returned to Norfolk.
In early March, the tug sailed for New Orleans, Louisiana
where she picked up a tow and pulled it to Gulfport, Mississippi
for loading. Avoyel departed the gulf coast on 20 March, bound for the Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal
and continued on to the South Pacific. The ship paused at Bora Bora
, Society Islands, to refuel before reaching Seeadler Harbor
, Manus Island
, on 13 May. Upon her arrival there, the tug reported to Commander, Service Force 10, for duty. On 15 May, the tug was redesignated ATF-150.
During the remaining months of World War II, Avoyel carried out various towing operations among the Philippine Islands; Hollandia, New Guinea; Ulithi
, Caroline Islands; Guam
, Mariana Islands
; Okinawa; and Eniwetok, Marshall Islands
. Following the Japanese capitulation on 15 August, the tug got underway with Task Group 95.4 to clear mines from the waters of the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Korea. Avoyel sank several mines with rifle fire; and, on 7 September, Allied occupation forces began steaming through the cleared area toward the Korean mainland.
The tug anchored at Sasebo, Japan on 16 September, and operated in the Sasebo area for the next four months, performing towing jobs and making resupply and refueling runs. On one occasion, Avoyel lost her 3,000 pound starboard anchor and 54 fathoms of chain in the East China Sea. This was temporarily replaced, however, with a comparable anchor salvaged from a wrecked Japanese vessel. During this period, Avoyel detonated a total of 47 mines swept clear of nearby minefields, and supplied over 160,000 gallons of distilled water to other vessels in the fleet.
On 5 February 1946, the ship delivered supplies to a destroyer tender anchored off Wakayama, and moored briefly with her sister ship . On 10 February she returned to Sasebo, and underwent repairs alongside before sailing for Hawaii on 2 March with ARD-22 in tow. A sick crewman, however, forced an emergency detour to Saipan, after which her destination was changed to Eniwetok. Upon arrival there, Avoyel anchored ARD-22 so that she could assist YC-827, which was adrift 90 miles west of Eniwetok. Upon returning to Eniwetok with the Lighter, the ship made plans to assist , which had lost its tow, AFD-17. Sighting the wayward drydock on 26 March, Avoyel towed the vessel to Guam, where she rode out a typhoon warning. While at Guam, the ship had a minor hole in her starboard side repaired and a few alterations conducted. Finally, on 12 May 1946, the ship resumed her interrupted trip to Pearl Harbor, and soon thereafter for the Canal Zone. The vessel retransited the Panama Canal on 12 July and reached New Orleans on the 28th, where the ship underwent a preinactivation overhaul. On 17 October, Avoyel proceeded to Orange, Tex., and was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 11 January 1947.
. Assigned to duty at Eureka, California
, the ship continued to provide valuable firefighting, salvage, and rescue services through 1967. On 10 January 1968, the ship was involved in an accidental collision with CGC Resolute during high-line drills, which resulted in a six-foot hole on the port side of the latter vessel courtesy of the Avoyels starboard anchor. Though the damage to Avoyel was classified as "moderate", the incident apparently hastened her decommissioning, which occurred on 30 September 1969. Subsequently sold in 1970 to Gulf Atlantic Oceanographic Research, Inc. of Pensacola, Florida
, Avoyel continued to serve in a commercial capacity for the remainder of her career. Her final disposition is unknown.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Avoyel was laid down 25 March 1944 by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
; launched on 9 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. George E. Goodman; and commissioned at Charleston Navy Yard on 8 January 1945, Lieutenant Commander William R. Brown in command.
Service history
Following shakedown training in Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
, the tug reported to Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, for post-shakedown availability. Upon completion of the yard period, the tug was ordered to proceed to the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
, which had frozen to a depth of two to three feet. Though not designed as an icebreaker, Avoyel was able to clear a path to Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
so that ammunition barges could be moved down the river. When this assignment was finished, the vessel returned to Norfolk.
In early March, the tug sailed for New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
where she picked up a tow and pulled it to Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
for loading. Avoyel departed the gulf coast on 20 March, bound for the Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
and continued on to the South Pacific. The ship paused at Bora Bora
Bora Bora
The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef, 29.3 km² in total, and of the atoll of Tupai , located north of Bora Bora...
, Society Islands, to refuel before reaching Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor
Seeadler Harbor, also known as Port Seeadler, is located on Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea and played an important role in World War II...
, Manus Island
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
, on 13 May. Upon her arrival there, the tug reported to Commander, Service Force 10, for duty. On 15 May, the tug was redesignated ATF-150.
During the remaining months of World War II, Avoyel carried out various towing operations among the Philippine Islands; Hollandia, New Guinea; Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
, Caroline Islands; Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
; Okinawa; and Eniwetok, Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. Following the Japanese capitulation on 15 August, the tug got underway with Task Group 95.4 to clear mines from the waters of the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Korea. Avoyel sank several mines with rifle fire; and, on 7 September, Allied occupation forces began steaming through the cleared area toward the Korean mainland.
The tug anchored at Sasebo, Japan on 16 September, and operated in the Sasebo area for the next four months, performing towing jobs and making resupply and refueling runs. On one occasion, Avoyel lost her 3,000 pound starboard anchor and 54 fathoms of chain in the East China Sea. This was temporarily replaced, however, with a comparable anchor salvaged from a wrecked Japanese vessel. During this period, Avoyel detonated a total of 47 mines swept clear of nearby minefields, and supplied over 160,000 gallons of distilled water to other vessels in the fleet.
On 5 February 1946, the ship delivered supplies to a destroyer tender anchored off Wakayama, and moored briefly with her sister ship . On 10 February she returned to Sasebo, and underwent repairs alongside before sailing for Hawaii on 2 March with ARD-22 in tow. A sick crewman, however, forced an emergency detour to Saipan, after which her destination was changed to Eniwetok. Upon arrival there, Avoyel anchored ARD-22 so that she could assist YC-827, which was adrift 90 miles west of Eniwetok. Upon returning to Eniwetok with the Lighter, the ship made plans to assist , which had lost its tow, AFD-17. Sighting the wayward drydock on 26 March, Avoyel towed the vessel to Guam, where she rode out a typhoon warning. While at Guam, the ship had a minor hole in her starboard side repaired and a few alterations conducted. Finally, on 12 May 1946, the ship resumed her interrupted trip to Pearl Harbor, and soon thereafter for the Canal Zone. The vessel retransited the Panama Canal on 12 July and reached New Orleans on the 28th, where the ship underwent a preinactivation overhaul. On 17 October, Avoyel proceeded to Orange, Tex., and was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 11 January 1947.
Transfer to the U.S. Coast Guard
On 9 July 1956, both the Avoyel and were removed from the Beaumont Reserve Fleet, and towed to Curtis Bay, Maryland for conversion and transfer to the United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. Assigned to duty at Eureka, California
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, the ship continued to provide valuable firefighting, salvage, and rescue services through 1967. On 10 January 1968, the ship was involved in an accidental collision with CGC Resolute during high-line drills, which resulted in a six-foot hole on the port side of the latter vessel courtesy of the Avoyels starboard anchor. Though the damage to Avoyel was classified as "moderate", the incident apparently hastened her decommissioning, which occurred on 30 September 1969. Subsequently sold in 1970 to Gulf Atlantic Oceanographic Research, Inc. of Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Avoyel continued to serve in a commercial capacity for the remainder of her career. Her final disposition is unknown.