USS Seminole AT , the third ship named Seminole of the United States Navy , was a Navajo -class fleet tug whose task was to travel with the fleet and provide towing services as required. Following shakedown along the U.
At on 7 December , however, the ocean-going tug sounded general quarters , reversed her course, and anchored at Pearl Harbor on the 12th.
On 15 February , however, Seminole embarked a salvage team and departed Pearl Harbor for Canton Island where, from 21 February to 24 March , she assisted in unsuccessful salvage operations for the grounded Army transport ship, SS President Taylor , which was eventually abandoned on the coral reef and removed in the s.
On 24 March , she reembarked her divers; took the fleet tug Sonoma AT in tow; and steamed under her diesel-electric power for Pearl Harbor. Arriving on 31 March , she remained in the harbor on channel escort duty until 31 May , when she commenced salvage operations on patrol craft YP off nearby Wahie Point , Lanai.
Three days later Seminole returned to Pearl Harbor. Repairs and further channel escort duty followed; then, on 15 August , she got underway to Fiji. She continued her escort duties at Tongatapu until 8 October Seminole arrived off Tulagi on 18 October , where she was assigned to ferry ammunition, gasoline, and troops. On the morning of 25 October , Seminole and YP , a converted fishing vessel, were unloading aviation gasoline, howitzers , and U.
