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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202)
ex
USS Wampanoag (ATA-202) (1948 - 1959)
USS ATA-202 (1944 - 1948)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Lima - Alpha
NILA
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal


Sotoyomo Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug
  • Planned and authorized as Rescue Ocean Tug (ATR-129)
  • Reclassified Auxiliary Fleet Tug (ATA-202),15 May 1944
  • Laid down, 24 August 1944, at Gulfport Boiler & Welding, Port Arthur, TX.
  • Launched, 10 October 1944
  • Commissioned, USS ATA-202, 8 December 1944
  • During World War II ATA-202 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 7 May 1945
  • Decommissioned, 27 October 1947, at Orange, TX.
  • Named USS Wampanoag (ATA-202), 16 July 1948
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Loaned to the US Coast Guard, 25 February 1959,
  • Commissioned USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202)
  • Struck from the Naval Register and permanently transferred to the US Coast Guard, 1 June 1959
  • Decommissioned by the Coast Guard, 30 January 1980
  • Sold for commercial service, date and owner unknown
  • Laid up at Tacoma, WA. in 2000
  • An attempt to acquire Comanche by the American Fleet Tug Museum was not successful in 2006
  • Donated to the Comanche 202 Foundation to serve as a non-profit historic and educational vessel in the south Puget Sound area
  • Current status, moored at Olympia, WA. during restoration
  • USS ATA-202 was awarded one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 610 t.(lt) 860 t.(fl)
    Length 143'
    Beam 34'
    Draft 15'
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 7 Officers, 42 Enlisted
    Armament one single 3"/50 gun mount, two twin 40mm gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel-electric engines, single screw

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Wampanoag (ATA-202)
    ATA-202 30k USS ATA-202 underway, date and place unknown. Courtesy NAFTS, Contributed by Bill Mozingo
    USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202)
    ATA-202 62k Ex-USS Wampanoag (ATA-202) in US Coast Guard service as USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202) underway circa 1959
    US Coast Guard photo.
    Robert Hurst
    ATA-202 62k USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202) underway in San Francisco Bay, November 1971.
    US Coast Guard photo.
    Courtesy NAFTS, Contributed by Dick Levesque RMC USCG Ret.
    USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202) Foundation
    ATA-202 88k Ex-USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202) at anchor north of Olympia, WA., 14 June 2008. Joe Peterson
    ATA-202 240k Volunteers work on restoring Ex-USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202) in 2008. Joe Peterson
    ATA-202 205k
    ATA-202 229k
    ATA-202 488k
    ATA-202 597k
    ATA-202 208k
    ATA-202 309k
    ATA-202 246k
    ATA-202 3341k

    View the USS Wampanoag (ATA-202)
    DANFS History entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    US Coast Guard Commanche 202 Foundation
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Maritime Heritage Network
    "Seattle Times" article "Tug needs permanent berth" by John Dodge
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Rescue Ocean Tug (ATR) Photo Index Back To The Auxiliary Fleet Tug (ATA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 22 May 2009