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USS ATA-214 (ex Palo Blanco, AN-64) On trials off Rockland, Maine, on 14 September 1944. The first two of these five tugs to be completed (ATA-214 and ATA-216), all of which were converted from net-laying ships of the Ailanthus (AN-38) class, were fitted with an armament configurations also fitted in some of the net layers, a 3" gun on a platform before the bridge, two 20-mm guns over the bridge, and a third on a former range finder platform just forward of and above the smokestack. Photo No. 19-N-77437 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS ATA-214 (ex Palo Blanco, AN-64) On trials off Rockland, Maine, on 14 September 1944. Photo No. 19-N-77433 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS ATA-216 (ex Allthorn, AN-70) Probably shown on builder's trials in October 1944. The position of the 20mm gun on the former range finder platform forward of and above the smokestack in ATA-214 and ATA-216 was found to be unsatisfactory because of the heat and fumes from the stack, and the armament arrangement of later units of both the ATA-214 class and the Ailanthus (AN-38) class was modified. Photo No. 19-N-74080 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS ATA-215 (ex Palo Verde, AN-65) On trials off Rockland, Maine, on 20 December 1944. In the second two of these five tugs to be completed (ATA-215 and ATA-217), the third 20mm gun was moved to a low position aft of the smokestack, the mainmast was moved to a position just aft of the stack, and its boom, which had been found to be unnecessary, was deleted. Photo No. 19-N-76242 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS ATA-215 (ex Palo Verde, AN-65) On trials off Rockland, Maine, on 20 December 1944. This ship and ATA-217 retained their earlier sisters' 3" gun forward of the bridge. Photo No. 19-N-76240 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS ATA-217 (ex Tesota, AN-71) Probably shown on builder's trials on 3 January 1945. Photo No. 19-N-76892 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS ATA-218 (ex Yaupon, AN-72) Probably shown around the time of her completion in March 1945. This, the last of these five tugs to be completed, traded her 3" gun for two single 40mm guns in tubs on the forecastle. She retained the vacant 3" gun platform forward of the bridge. Photo No. 19-N-85222 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS ATA-217 (ex Tesota, AN-71) Probably shown returning to San Francisco from her wartime station at Pearl Harbor circa April 1946. Photo No. NH 83830 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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