RV Pacific Escort I

RV Pacific Escort I – previously the U.S. Army LT-535 – was an Army tugboat acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1985 as an escort for submarines and as a for-hire oceanographic research ship at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard.[1]

History
United States
Name: RV Pacific Escort I
Builder: Levingston Shipbuilding, Orange, Texas
Laid down: date unknown
Completed: for the U.S. Army in 1944, in service as LT-535, and in service from 1945 to 1984
Acquired: by the U.S. Navy in 1985
In service: 1985
Out of service: date unknown
Stricken: date unknown
Identification:
Fate: Sold commercial by Navy, Ataboy(IMO 8936906), Brittania U III
General characteristics
Type: U.S. Army Design 377-A large tug
Tonnage: 505 gt
Length: 143' 5"
Beam: 33'
Draft: 14'
Propulsion: two diesel engines, single shaft, 1,530shp
Speed: 11.5 knots
Complement: unknown
Armament: none

Construction

LT 535 was a Large Tug (LT), Design 377-A,[2] 505 gross ton, vessel built as hull #331 by Levingston Shipbuilding of Orange, Texas for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps during 1943-1944. She was delivered to the Army April 26, 1944[3] and placed in service as the U.S. Army LT-535.

Service career

LT-535 had been in service with the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1984 when she was acquired and placed in service with the U.S. Navy in 1985, performing her duties with the Navy until finally struck at an unknown date and disposed of.[1]

U.S. Navy career

When acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1985, she was renamed Pacific Escort was placed into service as an escort for American submarines. She was based at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, in California, and was available for lease to commercial interests as a general research ship.[1]

Inactivation

Pacific Escort was struck from the Navy List at an unknown date and sold commercial as Ataboy (IMO 8936906).[1][3][4] She is believed to be still in commercial service as Brittania U III in Nigeria.[5]

See also

References
  1. "R/V Pacific Escort (I) ex LT-535 (1945 - 1984)". NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  2. T. Colton (November 23, 2011). "U.S. Army Ocean Tugs (LT, ST)". ShipBuilding History. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  3. T. Colton (March 17, 2011). "Levingston Shipbuilding, Orange TX". ShipBuilding History. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  4. "SHIP IMO NUMBERS DATABASE". Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  5. SeaAgent.com. "BRITTANIA U III (IMO#, Call Sign, builder match)". Retrieved 18 February 2012.


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