USS Chilula (ATF-153)

USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153) underway 2 July 1960, location unknown. The Coast Guard used her primarily for search and rescue.
History
Name:	USS Chilula (ATF-153)
Namesake:	Chilula
Builder:	Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.
Laid down:	13 June 1944
Launched:	1 December 1944
Commissioned:	5 April 1945
Decommissioned:	8 February 1947
Reclassified:	Fleet ocean tug ATF-153 15 May 1944
Recommissioned:	USCGC Chilula (WAT-153) 3 October 1956
Decommissioned:	19 June 1991
Reclassified:	Medium Endurance Cutter Chilula (WMEC-153) 1 May 1966
Fate:	sunk as a target in 1997
General characteristics
Class and type:	Navajo-class fleet tug
Displacement:	1,240 long tons (1,260 t)
Length:	205 ft (62 m)
Beam:	38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Draft:	15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
Propulsion:	Diesel-electric four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines single screw 3,000 shp (2,237 kW)
Speed:	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Complement:	86
Armament:	1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun 2 × single 40 mm AA guns 2 × single 20 mm AA guns 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Chilula (ATF-153) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned."

Chilula was laid down 13 June 1944, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. in Charleston and launched on 1 December 1944. She was commissioned 5 April 1945, with Lt. O. L. Guinn in command.

After the war, Chilula sailed for home. In Portland on 15 November 1946, she was decommissioned and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was struck from the Naval Register 1 November 1959, and transferred to Indonesia on 26 January 1961 as part of the Military Assistance Program. She served Indonesia as Rakata (928) until 1969.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.