USS ''Challenge'' (SP-1015/AT-59/YT-126/YTM-126) was a commercial
tugboat acquired by the
United States Navy for service in
World War I, and remained available for duty during
World War II.
The ship was built in 1889 by
J. H. Dialogue and Sons,
Camden, New Jersey
Camden is a city in and the county seat of Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Camden is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan area and is located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the 2020 ...
, as the tug ''Defiance'' and commandeered by the Navy from the Shipowners & Merchants Tugboat Co., San Francisco, California, on 13 June 1918, delivered on 24 June, and outfitted at
Mare Island Navy Yard. Commissioned as USS ''Defiance'' (SP-1015) on 29 July 1918. She was renamed USS ''Challenge'' on 15 August 1918.
World War I
''Challenge'' towed oil
barges between
California and
Mexico until 31 May 1920, when she arrived at
Bremerton, Washington, for duty under the
13th Naval District
The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...
. She served as a harbor tug at
Puget Sound Navy Yard until decommissioned 13 May 1922.
Recommissioned and reclassified AT-59 on 21 February 1925, ''Challenge'' resumed duty as a yard tug at
Puget Sound. On 31 January 1936, she was reclassified YT-126, and on 2 December 1940, decommissioned and placed "in service". Reclassified YTM-126 on 13 April 1944; and on 16 October 1946, transferred to the
Maritime Commission for disposal.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Challenge
Ships built by Dialogue & Company
Tugs of the United States Navy
1889 ships
World War II auxiliary ships of the United States
World War I auxiliary ships of the United States
Auxiliary ships of the United States Navy