USS Chilula (AT-153)
# USS Chilula (AT-153)

USS Chilula (ATF-153) was a Navajo-class fleet tug 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."

## Description

International radio call sign of USS Chilula (ATF-153) :

| November | Papa | India | November |
| - | - | - | - |

Chilula was laid down 13 June 1944, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. in Charleston and launched on 1 December 1944. She was commissioned 5 April 1945.

## Decommission and Coast Guard service

After the war, Chilula sailed for home. At Orange, Texas on 8 February 1947, she was decommissioned and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was transferred to the United States Coast Guard on 9 July 1956 as USCGC Chilula (WAT-153). Her hull number was subsequently changed to WATF-153 later in 1956 and then WMEC-153 in 1966. The Coast Guard decommissioned her on 19 June 1991 and returned her to the U.S. Navy who expended her as a target in 1997.

## Citations

* 1 2 3 4 5 Scheina, pp 50–52
* 1 2 3 "USS Chilula". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
