USS Pawtucket (YT-7)

USS Pawtucket (Harbor Tug No. 7/YT-7/YTM-7), was a district harbor tug serving in the United States Navy in the early 20th century, during both World War I and World War II. This was the first of two US Navy namesakes of the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and the Native American tribe bearing the same name.

USS Pawtucket
Pawtucket in 1899
History
United States
NameUSS Pawtucket
Ordered3 March 1897
BuilderMare Island Navy Yard, California
Laid down22 July 1898
Launched17 November 1898
Commissioned1 January 1899
Decommissioned13 December 1946
Reclassified
  • YT-7, 17 July 1920
  • YTM-7, 15 May 1944
HomeportPuget Sound Navy Yard
FateSold and scrapped, 1947
General characteristics
TypeTugboat
Displacement225 long tons (229 t)
Length92 ft 6 in (28.19 m)
Beam21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Draft8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
PropulsionSteam, single screw
Speed12.2 knots (22.6 km/h; 14.0 mph)
Complement
  • 9 (orig.)
  • 16 (World War II)
Armament

Service history

Pawtucket in 1898.

Pawtucket was ordered on 3 March 1897, laid down at Mare Island Navy Yard in California on 22 July 1898, and launched on 17 November 1898, christened by five year old Heather Baxter, daughter of Naval Constructor W. J. Baxter.[1] The 19th century designation "Harbor Tug No.7" was officially replaced with "YT-7" (District harbor tug) on 17 July 1920.

Pawtucket's entire career was spent on the Pacific coast, active in the 13th Naval District, the Puget Sound Navy Yard being her permanent base for more than thirty years. During World War II she was armed with a single 20 mm gun and served as a patrol craft and minesweeper in the Puget Sound area, with an increased complement of 16. Pawtucket was redesignated "YTM-7" on 15 May 1944.

At the war's end, Pawtucket was declared surplus, placed out of service on 13 December 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Commission. She was then sold to the Northeast Merchandising Service, which operated her briefly in Puget Sound before scrapping her in 1947.

Personnel

References

  1. "Launch of the Tug Pawtucket". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, CA. November 18, 1898. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
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