USS Challenge (ID-1015)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Challenge.

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.

USS Challenge (AT-59) Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 14 February 1921.
History
United States
Name	USS Challenge
Builder	Dialogue and Sons, Camden, New Jersey
Launched	1889, as the tug Defiance
Acquired	13 June 1918
Commissioned	29 July 1918, as USS Defiance (SP-1015)
Decommissioned	13 May 1922
Recommissioned	21 February 1925
Decommissioned	2 December 1940
In service	2 December 1940
Out of service	16 October 1946
Renamed	Challenge, 15 August 1918
Reclassified	AT-59, 21 February 1925 YT-126 (Yard Tug), 31 January 1936 YTM-126 (Medium Harbor Tug), 13 April 1944
Fate	Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 16 October 1946
General characteristics
Type	Tug
Displacement	246 long tons (250 t)
Length	122 ft (37 m)
Beam	22 ft 2 in (6.76 m)
Draft	12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Propulsion	1 × oil-burning steam engine, 750 shp (559 kW) 1 × auxiliary engine 1 shaft
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement	31
Armament	2 × 3-pounder guns

The ship was built in 1889 by J. H. Dialogue and Sons, Camden, New Jersey, 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. 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

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS Challenge at NavSource Naval History