USS Awatobi

Awatobi (center tugboat) alongside USS Rochester (CA-124) 20 September 1953, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California
History
United States
Name	USS Awatobi
Namesake	A Hopi Indian word meaning "high place of the bow."
Operator	United States Navy
Ordered	as YT-264
Builder	J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Washington
Laid down	27 March 1944
Launched	30 September 1944
Maiden voyage	Tacoma to San Francisco, California
In service	1 February 1945
Out of service	1960
Reclassified	YTB-264, 15 May 1944
Stricken	December 1960
Home port	San Francisco, California
Fate	fate unknown
General characteristics
Class & type	Cahto-class district harbor tug
Displacement	410 tons
Length	110 ft 0 in (33.53 m)
Beam	27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
Draft	11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Propulsion	diesel engine, single screw
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h)
Crew	12 enlisted men
Armament	two .50-caliber machine guns

USS Awatobi (YTB-264) was a harbor tugboat acquired by the United States Navy during the close of World War II. She was outfitted with two .50-caliber machine guns and assigned to the San Francisco Bay area where she provided tug services, and other harbor services as required.

Constructed at Tacoma, Washington

Awatobi (YT-264) was laid down on 27 March 1944 at Tacoma, Washington, by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp.; reclassified a large harbor tug and redesignated YTB-264 on 15 May 1944; launched on 30 September 1944; and placed in service on 1 February 1945.

World War II service

Awatobi served out her entire naval career as a harbor tug in the 12th Naval District in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

Decommissioning and deactivation

She was deactivated in 1960, and her name was stricken from the Navy list in December 1960. The details of her disposition are not available.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

• Awatobi (YTB-264), 1945–1960
• Photo gallery of USS Awatobi at NavSource Naval History