1918: A Tugboat is Commissioned into the U.S. Navy for Military Service During World War I

July 27, 1918

With the United States heavily engaged in fighting World War I as one of the Allied Powers, the U.S. Navy commissioned a civilian tugboat into military service as USS Advance (identification number 3057). This vessel had been built in 1912 by Marcellus Mitchell Davis (1858-1925) at his shipyard at Solomons Island, Maryland. Davis established this shipyard in 1883 and would own and operate it until 1925.

The Navy acquired Advance from A.J. Tayor & Bros., a commercial tugboat and towing company located in Washington, D.C. For the remaining months of the war, Advance was a patrol vessel for the 5^th Naval District. The areas within this district included portions of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The district was headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, which served as the homeport for Advance.

Following the end of World War I, Advance remained at Norfolk as a harbor tugboat there. This vessel, which was redesignated as USS Advance (YT-28) in 1920, continued to serve in the navy until being decommissioned on June 7, 1933. She was berthed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Her name was struck from the Navy List (later renamed the Naval Vessel Register) on December 12, 1933. On June 14 of the following year, Advance was sold to Martin Joseph Carroll (1874-1950) of Brooklyn, New York.

Advance eventually became part of the fleet of the New Jersey-based Amboy Towboat Company and was renamed St. Vincent. During the 1950s, however, she was acquired by the Moran Towing Company of New York. This vessel was scrapped in 1956. (The accompanying photo of Advance was most likely taken prior to her service in the navy.)

Photo Credit: Public Domain

For more information on USS Advance (YT-28), please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Advance_(YT-28)