USS Namequa

USS Namequa (YT-331/YTB-331) was built as Port Elizabeth (MC Hull 444), was laid down in early 1942, under a Maritime Commission contract as a type V2-ME-A1, by Calumet Shipyard and Dry Dock Co., Chicago, Illinois. Launched on 22 May 1942, sponsored by Mrs. James F. Rogan; she was renamed Namequa and classified as YT–331 on 29 September. The ship was acquired by the United States Navy on 15 October and placed in service on 17 February 1943.^[1]

Red Cloud (YTB-268), a type V2-ME-A1, same as the Namequa, alongside USNS David C. Shanks (T-AP-180), outside the Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco Bay, California, 1950s
History
United States
Name	USS Namequa
Builder	Calumet Shipyard and Dry Dock Co., Chicago, Illinois
Laid down	early 1942
Launched	22 May 1942, as Port Elizabeth
Commissioned	17 February 1943
Renamed	Namequa (YT–331), 29 September 1942
Stricken	June 1950
General characteristics
Class and type	Hiawatha-class yard tug
Displacement	237 long tons (241 t)
Length	100 ft (30 m)
Beam	25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft	9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	12
Armament	None

The name "Namequa" comes from the only daughter of Black Hawk, leader of the Sauk and Fox tribes during the Black Hawk War (1831–1832).

Service history

Allocated to the 1st Naval District and based at Boston, she provided fire-fighting, tug, and salvage services to naval vessels and installations in that district throughout her seven-year career. Reclassified YTB–331 on 15 May 1944, her active service was continuous, except for a period in reserve from March to October 1946. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1950.

See also

• Sotoyomo-class fleet tug
• Victory ships
• Liberty ship
• Type C1 ship
• Type C2 ship
• Type C3 ship
• United States Merchant Marine Academy
• List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy