Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
U. S. Navy Harbor Tug No. 50 (classified YT-50 in 1920),
1920-1925.
Harbor Tug No. 50, a 215-ton, 88-foot long wooden-hulled
tug propelled by a single-cylinder steam engine, was built by
the Industrial Department of the U. S. Naval Station, New Orleans,
Louisiana, and was commissioned in August 1920. She was one of
40 sisters (Harbor Tugs Nos. 46-85) ordered by the Navy in May
and June 1918 as part of its World War I emergency shipbuilding
effort. Her keel was laid in November 1918 and she was launched
in August 1919. Harbor Tug No. 50 was classified YT-50
when the Navy implemented its standard hull classification system
in July 1920. In February 1921 the Commandant, Fourteenth Naval
District, requested two additional motor tugs of the YT-86 class
be sent to Pearl Harbor as soon as possible, but none was available.
In March 1921 the steam-propelled Harbor
Tug No. 49 and Harbor Tug No. 50, both still at New
Orleans, were substituted. They were towed to the Canal Zone,
and from there to Mare Island, California, by USS Kingfisher
(AM-25) in August 1921. Both were towed from Mare Island to Pearl
Harbor by USS Ontario (AT-13) in September and October.
In March 1922 the office of the Chief of Naval Operations ordered
Harbor Tugs Nos. 49 and 50 placed out of commission,
"with a view to recommissioning at some later date",
as part of a reduction in district personnel and district craft
at Pearl Harbor. Harbor Tug No. 50 was decommissioned in
May 1922. In December 1924 the Chief of Naval Operations struck
her and Harbor Tug No. 49 from the Navy list and placed
them on the list of ships to be sold, with the comment that "this
type of wooden harbor tug has been found to be unsuitable for
Navy use." The two tugs were sold together in September 1925.
When the Navy Department asked the Commandant, Fourteenth Naval
District why they had been sold for a quarter of their appraised
value, the Commandant explained that the two tugs were useless
for Government service at Pearl Harbor because their steaming
radius was very small, their steam engines were of the noncondensing
type (which required frequent replenishments of fresh water),
and their hand-reversing gear was dangerous to operate when the
engine stuck on top or bottom dead center (a common occurrence
with single-cylinder steam engines). Finally, the hulls and fresh
water tanks of the tugs were of war-time wooden construction and
would need costly repairs to be made serviceable.
This page features all the views we have concerning U.S.
Navy Harbor Tug No. 50 (later YT-50).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 41614
U. S. Navy 88-foot Harbor Tug
Shortly after its keel was laid by the Industrial Department
of the U. S. Naval Station, New Orleans, La. This is probably
the keel of Harbor Tug No. 50, which was laid down immediately
after the launch of Harbor Tug No. 48 on 21 November 1918.
The stem and part of the sternpost have been erected on the keel.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 41615
U. S. Navy 88-foot Harbor Tug
Under construction by the Industrial Department of the U. S.
Naval Station, New Orleans, La., probably between August 1918
and January 1919. This is probably Harbor Tug No. 50,
with Harbor Tug No. 49 partly visible behind the shed
to the right in a more advanced stage of construction.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 41610
U. S. Navy 88-foot Harbor Tugs
Under construction by the Industrial Department of the U. S.
Naval Station, New Orleans, La. with two 110-foot submarine chasers,
probably between August 1918 and January 1919. The vessels are
probably, from left to right, Submarine Chaser No. 443
with Submarine Chaser No. 444 to port, Harbor Tug No.
49, and Harbor Tug No. 50.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 41611
U. S. Navy Harbor Tugs and Submarine Chasers
The 88-foot Harbor Tug No. 48 (on the right), Harbor
Tug No. 49, and the 110-foot Submarine Chaser No. 443
being fitted out by the Industrial Department of the U. S. Naval
Station, New Orleans, La., in early 1919. Harbor Tug No. 50
and Submarine Chaser No. 444 are in the building ways
in the background. The center building way, from which Harbor
Tug No. 49 was probably launched, is empty.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 41613
U. S. Navy 88-foot Harbor Tug
The steam engine for one of the three small tugs (Harbor Tugs
Nos. 48-50) built by the Industrial Department of the U.
S. Naval Station, New Orleans, La., in 1918-1920.
It is a vertical, single-cylinder, non-condensing engine with
a cylinder diameter of 18 inches and stroke of 22 inches and
was rated at 300 horsepower.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 85KB; 585 x 765 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 104706
U. S. Navy "Wood Harbor Tug"
Outboard profile of the Harbor Tug No. 46 class (Nos 46
through 85). This plan by the Navy's Bureau of Construction and
Repair is dated 25 April 1919 and is signed by the bureau's chief,
Naval Constructor David W. Taylor, USN. Its number is C&R No.
60815.
These tugs measured 88 feet in length and 20 feet in beam, displaced
215 tons, and had a designed speed of 10 knots.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 435 pixels |
 |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
Page made 30 April 2007