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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Edenshaw (YTB-459)
ex
 Edenshaw (YT-459) (1943 - 1962)
 Helpful (BYT-3) (1942 - 1943)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Tango - Hotel
 NBTH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Allaquippa Class District Harbor Tug:
  • Built by Gulfport Boiler and Welding Works, Port Arthur, TX (YN 193)
  • Laid down, 06 November 1941
  • Launched, 19 February 1942
  • Completed as Helpful (BYT-3), 12 March 1942
  • Lend-Lease to the Royal Navy when completed, commissioned HMT Helpful, date unknown 1
  • Acquired by the US Navy, circa 1943-44, at the Moroccan Sea Frontier and placed in service as Edenshaw (YT-459) the same day, assigned to the Moroccan Sea Frontier
  • During World War II Edenshaw was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Sicilian occupation, 9 to 15 July 1943 West Coast of Italy operations-1944,
    Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings, 22 January to 1 March 1944
    Salerno landings, 9 to 21 September 1943 Invasion of Southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944

  • Forced ashore by heavy storm off Anzio, 04 February 1944
  • Refloated with aid of HMS Prosperous, 07 March 1944
  • Reclassified as Large Harbor Tug YTB-459, 15 May 1944
  • Transferred under Lend-Lease to France at Toulon, 17 October 1944
  • Commissioned into the French Navy as FNS Coolie (A-684)
  • Returned to US custody and sold directly to France, 1949
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 April 1949
  • Decommissioned by the French Navy at Toulon, 16 December 1981
  • Final disposition, sold for scrapping
    1. DANFS incorrectly says she was Intent, which became Dekanisora (YTB-252)
    Specifications:
    Displacement 310 tons
    Length 102' 2"
    Beam 24'
    Draft 10'
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 12
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion
    General Motors Cleveland Div. diesel
    single screw, 1000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    FNS Coolie (A 684)
    Edenshaw
    140945906    		 75k FNS Coolie (A 684) underway, location unknown, 14 March 1950. Note her early pre-NATO pennant number, R 19.
    Marius Bar photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Edenshaw
    140945901    		 94k FNS Coolie (A 684) moored in the yard at Saigon, French Indo-China, date unknown.
    Photo courtesy of Roland Grand and Paul Smith    		 Robert Hurst
    Edenshaw
    140945902    		 96k FNS Coolie (A 684) in drydock at Saigon, French Indo-China, date unknown.
    Photos courtesy of Roland Grand and Paul Smith    		 Robert Hurst
    Edenshaw
    140945903    		 62k
    Edenshaw
    140945904    		 34k
    Edenshaw
    140945907    		 157k Two views of FNS Coolie (A 684) underway on Saigon River, French Indo-China, 04 May 1953.
    French Navy photos courtesy of Jacques Druel    		 Jacques Druel
    Edenshaw
    140945908    		 119k
    Edenshaw
    140945909    		 157k FNS Coolie (A 684) underway off Toulon, 11 March 1958.
    French Navy photo courtesy of Jacques Druel    		 Jacques Druel
    Edenshaw
    140945910    		 184k Four views of FNS Coolie (A 684) underway at Toulon, 30 April 1964.
    French Navy photos courtesy of Jacques Druel    		 Jacques Druel
    Edenshaw
    140945911    		 135k
    Edenshaw
    140945912    		 162k
    Edenshaw
    140945913    		 126k
    Edenshaw
    140945914    		 145k FNS Coolie (A 684) underway at Toulon, date unknown, but probably 1970s.
    French Navy photo courtesy of Jacques Druel    		 Jacques Druel
    Edenshaw
    140945905    		 289k FNS Coolie (A 684) moored dockside in a shipyard, probably at Toulon, date unknown.
    Marine Nationale photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Edenshaw (YT-459 / YTB-459)
    DANFS history entry located at the Naval History and Heritage Command website
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Yard and District Craft Photo Index Back To The District Harbor Tug (YT) Photo Index Back To The District Harbor Tug (Large) (YTB) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maitained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 15 November 2023