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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YH-1
ex
Ambulance Boat No. 1 (1919 - 1920)

District Harbor Tug:

Built by Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA

Laid down as Motor Tug No. 97, date unknown

Launched, 24 July 1919

Converted to a Yard Ambulance Boat before completion

Placed in service at Mare Island as Ambulance Boat No. 1, 18 August 1919

Designated YH-1, 17 July 1920

Assigned to Twelfth Naval District, 1919-1938

Used to evacuate sick and injured bluejackets from San Francisco to Goat (now Yerba Buena) Island

Placed out of service, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, December 1938

Sold, March 1939

Registered to Louis Uberto, Albany, CA, as tug Noreen J. (ON 239043), 1940 ¹

Registered to Case Construction Co., Los Angeles, CA, 1944

Registered to Star and Crscent Boat Co., San Diego, CA, renamed San Marcos, 1949

Registered to Fred P. Manget, Redondo Beach, CA, renamed Elizabeth, 1954

Registered to H-10 Water Taxi Co., San Pedro, CA, 1962

Final disposition, said to have gone to Mexican flag and foundered enroute to Mexico, 1980

^{1. Civilian registers does not note the former identity, but the dimensions and build date match YH-1, and this is the only Mare Island-built tug of this vintage untraced.}

Specifications:
Displacement 54 tons
Length 65' 0"
Beam 16' 2"
Draft 6' 2"
Speed 11.5 knots
Complement unknown
Armament none
Capacity 24 stretcher and 12 ambulatory patients
Propulsion

one Union 4 cylinder, 4 cycle gasoline engine, 150shp

single 12" X 15" propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Ambulance Boat No. 1 (YH-1)
140809704	68k	*Yard Ambulance Boat No.1* just before her launching at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA, 24 July 1919. Preparing to christen the vessel is the daughter of CDR John L. Neilson, USN (Medical Corps). CDR Neilson is also on the platform. US Navy photo # NH 41799 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, collection of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps)	US Naval History and Heritage Command
140809703	73k	*Yard Ambulance Boat No.1* launching at Mare Island Navy Yard, 24 July 1919. Note that much of her ambulance boat deckhouse is already in place. This craft was converted before or during the early stages of construction from *Motor Tug No. 97. US Navy photo # NH 41602* from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, collection of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps)	US Naval Historical Center
140809701	65k	*Yard Ambulance Boat No.1* off Mare Island Navy Yard, probably soon after 18 August 1919, when she entered service. This craft was converted before or during the early stages of construction from *Motor Tug No. 97* US Navy photo # NH 41600 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, collection of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps)	Robert Hurst
140809702	66k	Crew members of *Yard Ambulance Boat No.1* lowering a stretcher containing a patient through the starboard side of the booby hatch aft of the pilot house at Mare Island Navy Yard, 31 October 1919. Note the stretchers already suspended under the port side of the hatch. US Navy photo # NH 41601 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, collection of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps)	US Naval Historical Center
01445v	67k	*Yard Ambulance Boat No.1* stands by as tugs work to pull California (Battleship # 44) off the mud on the Vallejo side of the Mare Island channel after her launching at Navy Yard Mare Island, 20 November 1919.	Darryl Baker
Commercial Service
140809705	105k	*Noreen J., marked "T066," is seen here, moored alongside Norton Sound* (AV-11) off San Pedro, 31 December 1944. Note the censor has removed the tender's masthead radar. Official US Navy photo, 11th Naval District	Dave Wright
140809706	127k	*Elizabeth* at Los Angeles, 13 August 1979. Photo copyright George Schneider	George Schneider