USS ATA-214

History
United States
Name	USS Palo Blanco
Namesake	the palo blanco tree
Builder	Canulette Shipbuilding Co., Slidell, Louisiana
Laid down	22 May 1943
Launched	17 June 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Isabella A. Gamage
Commissioned	25 September 1944 as USS [ATA-214]
Decommissioned	September 1945
Stricken	date unknown
Fate	Wrecked off Syria, 9 September 1953
General characteristics
Type	ATA-214-class auxiliary fleet tug
Displacement	1,275 tons
Length	194 ft 6 in (59.28 m)
Beam	34 ft 7 in (10.54 m)
Draft	14 ft 1 in (4.29 m) (full load)
Propulsion	diesel-electric engines, single screw
Speed	12.1 knots
Complement	57
Armament	Two 40 mm gun mounts

USS ATA-214 was the lead ship of the ATA-214 class of tugs for the United States Navy and was built near the end of World War II. Originally laid down as Palo Blanco (YN-85), a net tender of the Ailanthus class, she was redesignated as AN-64, a net layer, before launch. Before completion, the name Palo Blanco was cancelled and the ship was named ATA-214, an unnamed auxiliary ocean tug. Palo Blanco served in the Pacific Theatre during her brief career with the Navy.

Career

Palo Blanco (ATA–214) was laid down 22 May 1943 as YN–85 at Canulette Shipbuilding Co., Slidell, Louisiana; re-designated AN–64, 20 January 1944; launched 17 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Isabella A. Gamage; re-designated ATA–214, 12 August 1944; lost the name Palo Blanco; and commissioned 25 September 1944. During her brief war-time career, ATA–214 served in the Pacific Ocean. In July 1945, she provided auxiliary tug services in and around Leyte Gulf. On the 12th, she steamed to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, but returned to San Pedro Bay, Leyte the 25th. After the war, the ship decommissioned in September 1945; she was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission 30 April 1947.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: YN-85 / AN-64 Palo Blanco - ATA-214