Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.


NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Topenebee (YTM-373)
ex
Topenebee (YTB-373) (1944 - 1962)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Mike - Foxtrot
NPMF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal


Allaquippa Class District Harbor Tug:
  • Built by Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works, Inc., Port Arthur, TX (YN 233)
  • Laid down, date unknown
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Redesignated District Harbor Tug, Large, YTB-373, 15 May 1944
  • Completed, 25 May 1944
  • Delivered and placed in service as Topenebee (YTB-373) at Galveston, TX, 25 May 1944
  • Allocated to the Fourteenth Naval District at Midway
  • Placed out of service in reserve at Pearl Harbor, 01 May 1947
  • Reactivated and assigned to Midway Island, 21 October 1948
  • Placed out of service in reserve at Pearl Harbor, November 1953
  • Reactivated, December 1956
  • Reclassified District Harbor Tug, Medium YTM-373, February 1962
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 01 June 1967
  • Sold to Crowley Towing, renamed Envoy (ON 516578), 1968
  • Sold and registered under Belize flag as Colon V (IMO 8842428), 1995
  • Renamed Colon X, circa 2008
  • No longer active, still afloat in Panama area, 2017
    Specifications:
    Displacement 206 tons
    Length 102' 2"
    Beam 24'
    Draft 9' 7"
    Speed 12 knots
    Complement 12
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion
    Diesel-electric
    single propeller, 1,000shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    Topenebee 53k Topenebee (YTB-373) on the builders ways at Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works, Inc., Port Arthur, TX. Robert Hurst, courtesy Bill Mozinga and the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors (NAFTS)
    Topenebee 614k Topenebee (YTB-373) on the builders ways at Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works, Inc., Port Arthur, TX.
    Photos from the files of the Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works.
    Jim Swank
    Topenebee 557k
    Topenebee 475k Launch of Topenebee (YTB-373) at Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works, Inc., Port Arthur, TX. in 1944.
    Photo from the files of the Gulfport Boiler & Welding Works.
    Jim Swank
    Topenebee 254k Topenebee (YTB-373) coming alongside Hughes (DD-410) at Midway, October 1945. Photo by Chester Bradley. Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    Topenebee 456k As Colon X anchored near the Amador Causeway, Panama, 03 March 2017. It would appear she is either in use as a garbage lighter, or just a handy spot to dospose of trash. Photo copyright Geoff Hoather, via shipspotting.com Dave Wright

    Topenebee (YTB-373 / YTM-373)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Navy History and Heritage Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Allaquippa Class Harbor Tug schematic
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Yard and District Craft Photo Index Back To The District Harbor Tug (Large) (YTB) Photo Index Back To The District Harbor Tug (Medium) (YTM) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 31 October 2018