USNS T-ATA 241 (Army LT Design 228) Class

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US Army tug Sgt Clarence W Foss (LT 132, Army Design 228), later USNS ATA 242.
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Class: T-ATA 241 (ARMY LT DESIGN 228)
Design: Army Design 228 (123', steel)
Displacement (tons): 435 light, 601 full
Dimensions (feet): 122.8' oa, 115' wl x 30' e x 13' max nav
Armament: none
Accommodations: 7 officers, 12 unlicensed
Speed (kts.): 13
Propulsion (HP): 1,225
Machinery: Diesel (direct), 1 screw

Construction:

ATA	Name	Acq	Builder	Contract	Completed	Svc
241	ATA 241	1 Nov 1950	Calumet SY/DD, South Chicago	1 Oct 1942	Dec 1943	15 Jun 1951
242	ATA 242	1 Nov 1950	Tampa Marine	25 Sep 1942	ca Dec 1943	4 Jun 1951
243	ATA 243	1 Nov 1950	Jakobsen SY, Oyster Bay, NY	28 May 1943	30 Mar 1945	5 Jun 1951

Disposition:

ATA	Name	T	Inact	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
241	ATA 241	T	4 Sep 1953	1 Sep 1962	1 Sep 1962	MA	8 Dec 1971
242	ATA 242	T	13 Aug 1953	1 Sep 1962	1 Sep 1962	MA	8 Dec 1971
243	ATA 243	T	31 Aug 1953	1 Sep 1962	1 Sep 1962	MA	8 Dec 1971

Class Notes:
These tugs were built to Army Design 228 (tug, ocean going, diesel, steel, 123') under Army contracts dated 1 Oct 1942 (LT 60), 25 Sep 1942 (LT 132), and 28 May 1943 (LT 646). The specifications for Design 228 were dated September 1942 and a total of 31 tugs of this type (LT 57-64, 128-137, 352-358, and 643-648) were ordered between September 1942 and February 1944 and delivered between September 1943 and March 1945. LT 60, 132, and 646 (later T-ATA 241-243) were among Army vessels and service craft in Alaska that MSTS and the Army's Chief of Transportation mutually agreed would be transferred on 1 November 1950 and for which classification and hull numbers were approved on 31 October 1950.

When sufficient personnel became available the three tugs were placed in commission in mid-1951 and assigned to MSTS Kodiak for Bering Sea area resupply operations in Alaska. All three passed to MSTS on 26 October 1951 and were taken out of commission and put in service. Thereafter they were continuously employed. On 2 March 1953 Commander MSTS requested replacement of these tugs by three Navy ATA's then in the Columbia Reserve fleet. The ex-Army tugs had not proved satisfactory in endurance, largely because when they were placed in the ocean towing service it was found necessary to limit their load drafts to ensure a satisfactory freeboard (given in the registers as 4ft 6.5in except 3ft 8.5in for ATA 243), meaning each tug could carry only 72% of its designed tankage with a corresponding reduction in steaming endurance. They were also not self-sustaining in fresh water. To maintain the stability required for ocean towing they had to ballast fresh and potable water tanks, and the fresh water needed to to flush and refill these tanks was not available in the quantities needed in the Aleutian Chain area. Finally, spare parts for them were not readily available in the Navy supply system because they were not Navy in design and equipment. On 31 March 1953 CNO proposed to provide ATA 174, 175, and 205 under civilian operation as replacements. The replacements subsequently became ATA 174 and 194, which were placed in service on 13 August 1953 and 31 August 1953 respectively allowing the inactivation of the ex-Army tugs. ATA 244, ex LT 156 (Army design 293), was a wooden-hulled equivalent to these tugs with about the same length and horsepower.

Ship Notes:

ATA	Name	MA	Notes
241	ATA 241		(ex-COL THOMAS E CLIFFORD JR, ex-LT 60, completed Dec 1943). Out of commission and in service 16 Nov 1951. Transferred to Columbia Group 11 Jan 1954. In USN reserve 1954-62, then to MA.
242	ATA 242		(ex- SGT CLARENCE WILLIAM FOSS, ex-LT 132, completed ca Dec 1943). Out of commission and in service 29 Nov 1951. Transferred to Columbia Group 10 Jan 1954. In USN reserve 1954-62, then to MA.
243	ATA 243		(ex-PVT GABRIEL CHAVEZ, ex-LT 646, completed 30 Mar 1945). Out of commission and in service 2 Nov 1951. Transferred to Columbia Group 11 Jan 1954. In USN reserve 1954-62, then to MA.