For other ships with the same name, see USS Choctaw.
USS Choctaw (AT-70) was a Navajo-classfleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II.[1] Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in Bermuda during the end of World War II where she was primarily responsible to aiding in the assembly of convoys and ships taking part in training. On 15 May 1944, she was redesignated ATF-70. She continued to serve for 3 more years before being decommissioned on 11 March 1947.
USS Choctaw (ATF-70) underway, date and location unknown.
Choctaw was laid down 4 April 1942 by Charleston Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Charleston, South Carolina and launched on 18 October 1942. She was commissioned 21 April 1943.[1]
United States Navyedit
From 17 June 1943 to 8 May 1944, Choctaw served at Bermuda, where she aided assembling convoys and new ships undergoing training with tug and target-towing services. Putting to sea 8 May, she was reclassified ATF-70, 15 May, and reached Oran 19 May to take USS Holder (DE-401) in tow for New York City, where she delivered her tow 9 June. She returned to her duties at Bermuda until 22 July, when she sailed for ports in Wales to take two LSTs in tow for New York, arriving 30 September.
After overhaul at Norfolk, Virginia, Choctaw sailed for tug duty at St. John's and Argentia, Newfoundland, between 20 November 1944 and 8 December, when she sailed to rendezvous with USS Huron. She took the collision-damaged ship in tow for Bermuda and Charleston, and returned to Newfoundland for service between 3 January 1945 and 14 March. She then operated off the east coast and in the Caribbean on salvage duty and in towing targets until 15 October 1946. Afterwards, she sailed to Orange, Texas to be placed out of commission, and in reserve, on 11 March 1947. She would remain there for three decades.
^ abc"USS Ute". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
External linksedit
Photo gallery of USS Choctaw (AF-70/ATF-70) at NavSource Naval History
January 01, 1970
choctaw, other, ships, with, same, name, choctaw, navajo, class, fleet, constructed, united, states, navy, during, world, purpose, ships, usually, towing, high, seas, combat, post, combat, areas, plus, other, duties, assigned, served, bermuda, during, world, w. For other ships with the same name see USS Choctaw USS Choctaw AT 70 was a Navajo class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II 1 Her purpose was to aid ships usually by towing on the high seas or in combat or post combat areas plus other duties as assigned She served in Bermuda during the end of World War II where she was primarily responsible to aiding in the assembly of convoys and ships taking part in training On 15 May 1944 she was redesignated ATF 70 She continued to serve for 3 more years before being decommissioned on 11 March 1947 USS Choctaw ATF 70 underway date and location unknown History United States NameUSS Choctaw NamesakeChoctaw BuilderCharleston Shipbuilding and Drydock Co Laid down4 April 1942 Launched18 October 1942 Sponsored byMrs L Cordell Commissioned21 April 1943 Decommissioned11 March 1947 ReclassifiedFleet ocean tug 15 May 1944 Stricken31 October 1977 IdentificationAT 70 ATF 70 FateTransferred to Colombia under the Security Assistance Program 1 March 1978 renamed ARC Pedro De Heredia RM 72 General characteristics Class and typeNavajo class fleet tug Displacement1 240 long tons 1 260 t Length205 ft 62 m Beam38 ft 6 in 11 73 m Draft15 ft 4 in 4 67 m PropulsionDiesel electric four General Motors 12 278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3 268A auxiliary services engines single screw 3 600 shp 2 685 kW Speed16 5 knots 30 6 km h 19 0 mph Complement85 Armament1 3 in 76 mm gun 2 single 40 mm AA guns 2 single 20 mm guns AA guns Contents 1 Description 2 United States Navy 3 Transfer to Colombian Navy 4 References 5 External linksDescription editInternational radio call sign ofUSS Choctaw AT 70 1 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp November Uniform Juliet Tango Choctaw was laid down 4 April 1942 by Charleston Shipbuilding and Drydock Co Charleston South Carolina and launched on 18 October 1942 She was commissioned 21 April 1943 1 United States Navy editFrom 17 June 1943 to 8 May 1944 Choctaw served at Bermuda where she aided assembling convoys and new ships undergoing training with tug and target towing services Putting to sea 8 May she was reclassified ATF 70 15 May and reached Oran 19 May to take USS Holder DE 401 in tow for New York City where she delivered her tow 9 June She returned to her duties at Bermuda until 22 July when she sailed for ports in Wales to take two LSTs in tow for New York arriving 30 September After overhaul at Norfolk Virginia Choctaw sailed for tug duty at St John s and Argentia Newfoundland between 20 November 1944 and 8 December when she sailed to rendezvous with USS Huron She took the collision damaged ship in tow for Bermuda and Charleston and returned to Newfoundland for service between 3 January 1945 and 14 March She then operated off the east coast and in the Caribbean on salvage duty and in towing targets until 15 October 1946 Afterwards she sailed to Orange Texas to be placed out of commission and in reserve on 11 March 1947 She would remain there for three decades Transfer to Colombian Navy editAfter being laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet for 30 years she was struck from the Naval Register on 31 October 1977 and transferred to the Colombian Navy under the Security Assistance Program on 1 March 1978 as ARC Pedro De Heredia RM 72 References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here a b c USS Ute NavSource Naval History Retrieved 22 July 2015 External links editPhoto gallery of USS Choctaw AF 70 ATF 70 at NavSource Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Choctaw AT 70 amp oldid 1148488540, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
