Avoyel- AT-150

Avoyel

An Indian tribe native to the state of Louisiana.

(AT-150: dp. 1,675; 1. 205'; b. b. 38'6"; dr. 15'4"; s. 16.5 k. - cpl. 85; a. 13", 2 40mm., 2 20mm., 2 dct.; cl. Navajo)

Avoyel (AT-150) was laid down on 25 March 1944 at Charleston S.C., by the Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; launched on 9 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. George E. Goodman; and commissioned at Charleston on 8 January 1945, Lt. Comdr. William R. Brown in command.

Following shakedown training in the Chesapeake Bay, the tug then reported to the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va., for post-shakedown availability. Upon completion of the yard period, the tug was ordered to proceed to the Hudson River which had frozen to a depth of two to three feet. Avoyel cleared a path to Iona Island so that ammunition barges could be moved down the river. When this assignment was finished, the vessel returned to Norfolk.

In early March, the tug sailed for New Orleans where she picked up a tow and pulled it to Gulfport, Miss., for loading. Avoyel departed the gulf coast on 20 March, bound for the Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal and continued on to the South Pacific. The ship paused at Bora Bora, Society Islands, to refuel before reaching Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island, on 13 May. Upon her arrival there, the tug reported to Commander, Service Force 10, for duty. On 15 May, the tug was redesignated ATF-150.

During the remaining months of World War 11, Avoyel carried out various towing operations among the Philippine Islands; Hollandia, New Guinea; Ulithi, Caroline Islands; Guam, Mariana Islands; Okinawa; and Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. Following the Japanese capitulation on 15 August, the tug got underway with Task Group 95.4 to clear mines from the waters of the Yellow Sea, off the coast of Korea. Avoyel sank several mines with rifle fire; and, on 7 September, Allied occupation forces began steaming through the cleared area toward the Korean mainland.

The tug anchored at Sasebo, Japan, on 16 September and Sasebo area for the next three months, performed making resupply and refueling runs. On 8 1 got underway to return to the United States. in route at Saipan, Eniwetok, and Guam. She then sailed, via Pearl Harbor, for the Canal Zone. The vessel retransited the Panama Canal on 12 July and reached New Orleans on the 28th. The ship then underwent a preinactivation overhaul.

On 17 October, Avoyel proceeded to Orange, Tex., and was placed out of commission, in reserve, there on 11 January 1947 On 9 July 1956, the ship was loaned to the United States Coast Guard and assigned to duty at Eureka, Calif. On 1 June 1969, her name was struck from the Navy Est, and the ship was permanently transferred to the Coast Guard on that same day. The vessel was decommissioned by the Coast Guard on 30 September 1969, sold, and placed in commercial service.