More info here
Posted on 07/29/2005 7:15:48 PM PDT by SandRat
Dionel Aviles, under secretary of the Navy, signed a donation contract July 28 officially transferring the historic, World War II harbor tug Hoga (YTB 146) to the city of North Little Rock, Ark., for the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.
The city plans to transport the vessel from the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet, in Suisun Bay, Calif., to a display site in North Little Rock, on the Arkansas River.
Secretary of the Navy Gordon England said, “This historic vessel serves as a testament to the unrelenting courage and fierce determination exhibited by Hoga's crew during the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. I am confident that the city of North Little Rock and the people of the state of Arkansas will preserve Hoga as a proud part of America’s naval heritage.”
Hoga’s transit through the Panama Canal and up the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River will take place later this summer. The vessel will be refurbished and converted into a naval museum and memorial by the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum. It will join another historic naval vessel, the submarine Razorback already on display in North Little Rock. Hoga is expected to be open to the public before the end of the year.
Hoga was built by Consolidated Shipbuilders, Morris Heights, N.Y. The vessel was launched Dec. 31, 1940, and placed into service May 22, 1941.
Coming under attack in Pearl Harbor on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Hoga saved several ships caught in the harbor. The vessel pulled the damaged repair ship USS Vestal (AR 4) away from the burning USS Arizona (BB 39), and fought fires aboard Arizona. Hoga pushed the minelayer USS Oglala (CM 4) to a nearby dock, and assisted the burning USS Nevada (BB 36) by fighting fires and pushing the sinking vessel aground. This prevented Nevada from sinking in the channel and blocking the fleet’s access to the open sea. For its actions, Hoga received a commendation from Adm. Chester A. Nimitz in February 1942.
Hoga was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in June 1989. After serving as a firefighting tug for 45 years on San Francisco Bay, the vessel was retired in 1993 and returned to Navy custody. Hoga was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register July 12, 1996. Hoga is the last remaining naval vessel afloat that saw action in Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. The creation of the Hoga museum and memorial in North Little Rock will allow future generations to share and commemorate its rich history.
Hoga is the last remaining naval vessel afloat that saw action in Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.
glad to see that it will be saved
I may have to go to Little Rock, to render a salute to a gallant vessel, and to the men who served aboard her.
DANFS entry:
Hoga
A Sioux Indian word meaning "fish".
(YT - 146: dp. 325; l. 100'; b. 25'; dr. 9'7")
Hoga (YT-146), a diesel-powered tug, was launched by Consolidated Shipbuilding Corp., Morris Heights, N.Y., 31 December 1940; and placed in service 22 May 1941.
Hoga served during World War II as a harbor tug in the 14th Naval District, and was reclassified YTB-146 15 May 1944. She was loaned to the city of Okland, Calif. in June 1948, and serves at present as a harbor tug into 1967. She was reclassified YTM-146 on 1 February 1962.
I have visted the Razorback, its a very good tour. Of course its only a 15 min journey for me to go see it. The tour last a about 45 min the sub is 90% operational and they were still doing some renovating on it when i went thru. I believe they still had to repair the officer's mess.
awsome photos
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