USS Pontiac (YT-20)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Pontiac |
| Namesake | After Ottawa native American chief Pontiac |
| Builder | Peter McGishan, Athens, New York |
| Laid down | 1891 |
| Christened | as Right Arm |
| Acquired | by the Navy, 23 April 1898 |
| Commissioned | USS Pontiac, 1 July 1911 |
| Decommissioned | 1921 |
| Renamed | Pontiac, 23 April 1898 |
| Reclassified | District Harbor Tug (YT-20), 17 July 1920 |
| Stricken | est. 1921 |
| Homeport | New York Harbor |
| Fate | Sold, 25 February 1922 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | District harbor tug |
| Displacement | 401 tons |
| Length | 124 ft 4 in (37.90 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Draft | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Propulsion | not known |
| Speed | 10.5 knots |
| Complement | not known |
| Armament |
|
USS Pontiac (YT-20) was a harbor tugboat purchased by the U.S. Navy during World War I. She was assigned to the New York Harbor area and performed her towing tasks there until war’s end. Post-war she was found to be excess to needs and sold.
Built in Athens, New York
[edit]The second ship to be so named by the U.S. Navy, Pontiac was laid down as Right Arm in 1891 by Peter McGishan, Athens, New York; purchased by the Navy from Merritt & Chapman 23 April 1898; renamed Pontiac 23 April.
Pontiac served in harbors along the north Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States. She operated in yards such as New York, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; New London, Connecticut; and, Charleston, South Carolina.
World War I service
[edit]Pontiac commissioned 1 July 1911. During World War I, she concentrated efforts at New York City, a major center for domestic and foreign commerce. She was renamed Passaic 11 April 1918.
Post-war decommissioning
[edit]Continuing harbor and district tug operations after the war, she decommissioned and was placed on the sale list in 1921. She was sold to John Kantzler & Sons, Bay City, Michigan, 25 February 1922.
References
[edit]
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.- NavSource Online: Pontiac - YT-20 Passaic
