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USS San Felipe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

YFB-12 photographed off the Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, during the 1920s or 1930s
History
United States
NameEngineer
OperatorUnited States Army
BuilderHong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company, Hong Kong
Launched1907
Completed1907
Fate
  • transferred to the U.S. Navy, 28 December 1917
  • transferred back to the U.S. Army, 1919
  • transferred back to the U.S. Navy, 9 October 1922
United States
OperatorUnited States Navy
RenamedSan Felipe
Reclassifiedferry boat (YFB-12)
Stricken24 July 1942
Honours and
awards
Fatecaptured by Japanese forces, 6 May 1942
Japan
OperatorImperial Japanese Army
RenamedAki Maru
Reclassifiedtransport ship
IdentificationIJA 2215
Fateunknown
General characteristics
Class and typetugboat
Tonnage298.8 gross register tons[2]
Length111.5 ft (34.0 m) o/a[2]
Beam21.67 ft (6.61 m)[2]
Draught9.75 ft (2.97 m)[2]
Installed power500 Steam horsepower[1]
Propulsiontwo vertical triple expansion (9"-14"-25"x15") steam engines, twin screws[1]
Speed10 knots[2]

San Felipe (YFB-12) (ex-Engineer) was a United States Army steel tugboat that later served as a ferryboat in the U.S. Navy and as an Imperial Japanese Army transport during World War II.

History

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She was completed in 1907 at the Hong Kong shipyard of Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company for the benefit of the United States Army as the steel tugboat, Engineer.[1][3] On 28 December 1917, she was transferred to the United States Navy and assigned to the United States Asiatic Fleet, 16th Naval District[1][2][4] but then returned to the U.S. Army in 1919.[1] On 9 October 1922, she was transferred back to the U.S. Navy, 16th Naval District[1] to replace the Callao (YFB-11).[2] On 1 November 1922,[2] she was renamed San Felipe and designated as ferryboat/launch, YFB-12.[1] She worked as a ferry boat between the Cavite and Manila.[5] On 10 December 1941, she was assigned to the Inshore Patrol and survived the bombing of Cavite Naval Yard and on 8 April 1942, she assisted in the evacuation of personnel from the Mariveles Naval Section Base to Corregidor during the Battle of Bataan.[1] On 6 May 1942, she was captured by Japanese forces after the Fall of Corregidor and returned to service as Imperial Japanese Army transport Aki Maru.[1] Her ultimate fate is unknown.[1]

On 24 July 1942, she was struck from the Naval Register.[1] She earned one battle star.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Priolo, Gary P.; Wright, David L. "San Felipe (YFB-12) ex Engineer (1917 - 1922)". NavSource - Naval Source History. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "San Felipe". Naval History and Heritage Command, United States Navy.
  3. ^ "Engineer II (Seagoing Tug)". Naval History and Heritage Command, United States Navy.
  4. ^ Wright, David X. "United States Asiatic Fleet Order of Battle, December 1941". The United States Asiatic Fleet. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  5. ^ "San Felipe YFB-12". historycentral.com.