HMS Emphatic (W 154) was a Favourite-class tugboat of the Royal Navy during World War II. Emphatic was built in the United States and transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease. She participated in the Normandy landings and was returned to the United States Navy postwar. She was transferred to the Philippine Navy in 1948 and received the name Ifugao. She was stricken form the naval register in 1979.

BRP Ifugao underway around 1953
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Emphatic (W154)
BuilderLevingston Shipbuilding Company, Orange, Texas
Launched18 August 1943
Commissioned27 January 1944
Stricken8 May 1946
FateReturned to the United States Navy, 1946
General characteristics
TypeFavourite class tugboat
Displacement835 tons full
Length143 ft
Beam33 ft 10 in (extreme)
Draft13 ft 2 in (limiting)
Propulsionone General Motors Diesel-electric model 12-278A

single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear Ship's Service Generators one Diesel-drive 60 kW 120 V D.C. one Diesel-drive 30 kW 120 V D.C.

single propeller, 1,500shp
Speed13 knots
Complement45
Armament1 x 3"/50 caliber gun

Service history

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Emphatic was laid down in 1943 by the Levingston Shipbuilding Company in Orange, Texas, as ATR-96, launched 18 August 1943 and commissioned into the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease on 27 January 1944 as HMS Emphatic (W 154).[1] She served through the war with the Royal Navy. During the Normandy landings, she towed Mulberry harbour pontoons.[2]

The ship was returned to the United States Navy in 1946. She was transferred to the Philippine Navy in July 1948 and renamed BRP Ifugao (AQ-44).[3] The tug was stricken form the naval register in 1979[4] her fate after that is unknown.

References

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  1. ^ "HMS Emphatic (W 154) of the Royal Navy – British Rescue Tug of the Favourite class – Allied Warships of WWII – uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  2. ^ Buckhingham, Mike (4 September 2009). "70 YEARS ON: Garndiffaith man's war memories will never fade". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  3. ^ "ATR-96 HMS Emphatic (W-154)". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  4. ^ "British, French and Dutch Tugs". www.thamestugs.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2015.