USS Chippewa (AT-69)
USS Chippewa was a 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." She served in the Atlantic Ocean.
Chippewa was laid down as AT-69, on 26 June 1942, by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Charleston, South Carolina; launched on 25 July 1942; sponsored by Mrs. T. Horton; and commissioned on 14 February 1943.
World War II Atlantic Ocean operations
Chippewa crossed the Atlantic from Norfolk to Casablanca to lay buoys there between 4 May 1943 and 9 June, returning to Boston 26 June. Two days later, she cleared for Norfolk and overhaul, and on 19 July began towing duty with a passage to Bermuda and Jacksonville. Assigned to duty in the Caribbean Sea Frontier, she made Trinidad, British West Indies, her principal base until 6 May 1944, when she returned to Norfolk for repairs. On 15 May she was reclassified ATF-69.With repairs complete 11 June 1944, Chippewa returned to towing and salvage duty in the Caribbean out of Trinidad until 29 March 1945. After repairs at Norfolk, she was reassigned for duty based on Argentia, Newfoundland, between 19 May and 1 November. During this time, she made a long towing voyage to Houston, Tex. Chippewa made her last towing passage from Boston to Bermuda to Norfolk, where she arrived 28 December with SS War Bonnet in tow.