USS Genesee, a 688-ton (displacement) tug, was built in 1905 at Sparrow's Point, Maryland, as the 617 gross ton commercial tug Monocacy. She was acquired by the Navy in July 1917, with registry number SP-1116, renamed Genesee (SP-1116) in late October and placed in commission in November. In late 1917 and early 1918 the tug crossed the Atlantic to Queenstown, Ireland, where she was based for the rest of World War I performing towing and patrol duties. During 1919 and into 1920 Genesee operated out of the Azores, western France, and in the Adriatic Sea.
After completing her work in European waters Genesee was sent to the Philippines, arriving at the Cavite Navy Yard in September 1920, a few months after she received the new designation AT-55. The tug spent the next two decades with the Asiatic Fleet, visiting China in 1921 but mainly serving in Philippine waters. She continued to support U.S. forces in the Manila Bay area during the first five months of the Pacific war. On 5 May 1942, as Japanese forces made a successful assault on the fortress island of Corregidor, USS Genesee was scuttled to prevent her capture and use by the enemy.
This page features the only views we have concerning USS Genesee (SP-1116, later AT-55).
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 31 January 2006