USS Hoga

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USS Hoga:
History and Future of a WWII Tug

Editor's Note: The USS Hoga YT-146 Association of Fort Lauderdale, Florida is organizing to bring this World War II tug to a permanent berth in Dania Beach, Florida.  Bluewater plans to help with course plotting, charts and cruising guides for this historic vessel to make the trip from San Francisco to Florida. Follow her history with information taken from the website www.usshoga.org.

USS Hoga YT-146

USS Hoga: The Build-up to World War II
At the end of the 1930's Americans were struggling to pull out of the depression and watching the spread of fascism across Europe with great concern. German troops, under the leadership of Chancellor Adolf Hitler, annexed Austria in March of 1938, and occupied parts of Czechoslovakia by September of that year. In the Far East in October, Japan openly rejected the 38-year old Open Door Policy with China. The U.S. Congress passed a Naval Expansion Act providing $1,000,000,000 to build a "two-ocean" navy in case they were forced to defend the ideals of freedom and challenge fascism.

U. S. President Roosevelt sought reassurance from Hitler and Italy's Mussolini that they did not intend to attack additional nations. Hitler agreed to a non-aggression treaty in August with the Soviet Union. Yet, on September 1, 1939, German troops attacked Poland causing England and France to declare war on Germany. At the same time Hitler's troops moved into Czechoslovakia and Italian troops crossed the Adriatic to occupy Albania. In the face of this international crisis the United States began preparations for war with a build up of troops, machinery and provisions.

An Historical Day in Pearl Harbor
What started as a nondescript life in 1939 turned into anything but that at 0756 hours on December 7, 1941. That morning for approximately 3 hours, the hawser tug YT-146 Hoga dodged bombs, bullets and torpedoes to help fight fires on the USS Arizona, Minesweeper USS Oglala and the USS Nevada. She rescued untold wounded sailors from the fiery waters of Pearl Harbor. Her crew worked the Hoga continually for 72 hours before receiving a relief crew. After the attack on Pearl Harbor she returned to her normal job in the port helping warships in and out of the harbor.

In 1948, her life changed again and instead of becoming a heap of scrap iron, she took on duties as a fireboat in the harbor at San Francisco and Oakland. Renamed "CITY OF OAKLAND," she fought fires on the docks and ships for another five decades. In 1996, she lost her stripes again and was retired to the reserve fleet, where she awaits her fate. She is the last survivor still afloat from that infamous attack. The City of Dania Beach, Florida and the USS HOGA YT-146 Association are asking for help to give her a final resting place as an honored living memorial to those who have fought in America's wars. Now, this true American Hero is fighting for her life.

Our Current Mission
We of the USS HOGA YT-146 ASSOCIATION INC., are determined to make her new berth a place of honor in Dania Beach, Florida. We need all the support we can muster, and we will in no way turn down any donation or offer of help. The USS Hoga has been designated as a National Monument and therefore must be maintained accordingly. Furthermore, the Navy performs an annual inspection of every vessel donated for a memorial. If the vessel is not maintained in proper condition, the donation will be rescinded and the vessel will be returned to the reserve fleet, as has happened with a submarine that was stationed in Tampa.

Contact us to restore a vital part of American history:

USS HOGA YT-146 ASSOCIATION, Inc. Representative
4470 Ravenswood Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33312
www.usshoga.org