USS San Felipe

YFB-12 photographed off the Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines, during the 1920s or 1930s
History
United States
Name	Engineer
Operator	United States Army
Builder	Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company, Hong Kong
Launched	1907
Completed	1907
Fate	transferred to the U.S. Navy, 28 December 1917 transferred back to the U.S. Army, 1919 transferred back to the U.S. Navy, 9 October 1922
United States
Operator	United States Navy
Renamed	San Felipe
Reclassified	ferry boat (YFB-12)
Stricken	24 July 1942
Honours and awards	1 Battle Stars  American Defense Service Medal[1]  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal[1]  World War II Victory Medal[1]  Philippine Defense Medal[1]
Fate	captured by Japanese forces, 6 May 1942
Japan
Operator	Imperial Japanese Army
Renamed	Aki Maru
Reclassified	transport ship
Identification	IJA 2215
Fate	unknown
General characteristics
Class and type	tugboat
Tonnage	298.8 gross register tons[2]
Length	111.5 ft (34.0 m) o/a[2]
Beam	21.67 ft (6.61 m)[2]
Draught	9.75 ft (2.97 m)[2]
Installed power	500 Steam horsepower[1]
Propulsion	two vertical triple expansion (9"-14"-25"x15") steam engines, twin screws[1]
Speed	10 knots[2]

San Felipe (YFB-12) (ex-Engineer) was a United States Army steel tugboat that later served as a ferryboat in the U.S. Navy and as an Imperial Japanese Army transport during World War II.

History

She was completed in 1907 at the Hong Kong shipyard of Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company for the benefit of the United States Army as the steel tugboat, Engineer.^[1][3] On 28 December 1917, she was transferred to the United States Navy and assigned to the United States Asiatic Fleet, 16th Naval District^[1][2][4] but then returned to the U.S. Army in 1919.^[1] On 9 October 1922, she was transferred back to the U.S. Navy, 16th Naval District^[1] to replace the Callao (YFB-11).^[2] On 1 November 1922,^[2] she was renamed San Felipe and designated as ferryboat/launch, YFB-12.^[1] She worked as a ferry boat between the Cavite and Manila.^[5] On 10 December 1941, she was assigned to the Inshore Patrol and survived the bombing of Cavite Naval Yard and on 8 April 1942, she assisted in the evacuation of personnel from the Mariveles Naval Section Base to Corregidor during the Battle of Bataan.^[1] On 6 May 1942, she was captured by Japanese forces after the Fall of Corregidor and returned to service as Imperial Japanese Army transport Aki Maru.^[1] Her ultimate fate is unknown.^[1]

On 24 July 1942, she was struck from the Naval Register.^[1] She earned one battle star.^[1]

References

1. Priolo, Gary P.; Wright, David L. "San Felipe (YFB-12) ex Engineer (1917 - 1922)". NavSource - Naval Source History. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
2. "San Felipe". Naval History and Heritage Command, United States Navy.
3. "Engineer II (Seagoing Tug)". Naval History and Heritage Command, United States Navy.
4. Wright, David X. "United States Asiatic Fleet Order of Battle, December 1941". The United States Asiatic Fleet. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
5. "San Felipe YFB-12". historycentral.com.