Iwana (YT-2).
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.
Class: TRITON AND TUGS NOS. 1-9, 1889-1902 (later YT 1-10)
Triton: 96.75' pp x 20.75' x 9.0' mn., 212t displ., 300 ihp, 13 kts.
YT 1-3: 92.5' pp x 20.9' x 8.0', 192.4t displ., 300 ihp, -- kts
YT-4: 121.0 oa, 110.3' pp x 25' ext. (25.6' including guard), x 9.0' fwd, 10.0' ext. aft, 4.5' min. freeboard, 344.97 tons load displ., 500 ihp., -- kts, inverted triple expansion engine.
YT-5: 102.5' oa, 96.75' wl, [92.5' pp,] x 21' ext. (22' over guards), draft fwd 8', aft 9.1' ext, min. freeboard 3.4', Load displ. 225t, 450 ihp, -- kts, inverted triple expansion engine.
YT 6-7: 102.5' oa, 92.5' pp x 21.1' ext. less guards x 8.75' mean draft. 225t displ., 450 ihp, 12 kts.
YT 8-9: 92.5' pp x 21.1' x 9.0'. 230t displ. (157.6t gross), 450 ihp, 12 kts
Construction:
| Tug # | Name | Ord | Builder | Keel | Launch | Commiss. |
| -- | TRITON | (Purchased) | John H. Dialogue, Camden, NJ | -- | 1888 | Oct 89 |
| 1 | WAHNETA | 20 Dec 90 | City Point IW, Boston, MA | Apr 91 | 3 Mar 92 | 16 Apr 92 |
| 2 | IWANA | 20 Dec 90 | City Point IW, Boston, MA | Apr 91 | 12 Mar 92 | Apr 92 |
| 3 | NARKEETA | 20 Dec 90 | City Point IW, Boston, MA | Apr 91 | 19 Feb 92 | 14 Apr 92 |
| 4 | UNADILLA | 1894 | Mare Is. NYd | 29 Apr 95 | 21 Sep 95 | Feb 96 |
| 5 | SAMOSET | 26 Jun 95 | Norfolk NYd | 13 Jan 95 | 20 Mar 97 | 1897 |
| 6 | PENACOOK | 1897 | Brooklyn NYd | 8 Feb 98 | 29 Oct 98 | 1898 |
| 7 | PAWTUCKET | 1897 | Mare Is. NYd | 22 Jul 98 | 17 Nov 98 | 1899 |
| 8 | PENTUCKET | 1902 | Boston NYd | 29 Jan 03 | 16 Jul 03 | 1904 |
| 9 | SOTOYOMO | 1902 | Mare Is. NYd | 2 Mar 03 | 20 Aug 03 | 21 Apr 04 |
Disposition:
| Tug # | Name | Out of Serv. | Strike | Disposal | Fate | MA Sale |
| -- | TRITON | 1930 | 19 May 30 | 15 Sep 30 | Sold | -- |
| 1 | WAHNETA | 4 Aug 22 | -- | 6 Dec 22 | Sold | -- |
| 2 | IWANA | -- | 28 Apr 45 | 20 Mar 46 | WSA | -- |
| 3 | NARKEETA | Apr 23 | -- | 28 Oct 26 | Sold | -- |
| 4 | UNADILLA | Sep 45 | May 47 | May 47 | WSA | -- |
| 5 | SAMOSET | 1945 | -- | 9 Jan 47 | MC | -- |
| 6 | PENACOOK | Sep 45 | -- | 12 Aug 47 | Sold | -- |
| 7 | PAWTUCKET | 13 Dec 46 | -- | -- | Sold | -- |
| 8 | PENTUCKET | 13 Jul 33 | 17 Dec 36 | 25 Jan 37 | Sold | -- |
| 9 | SOTOYOMO | 15 Feb 46 | 26 Feb 46 | 15 Feb 46 | Scuttled | -- |
Class Notes:
Triton and YT 1-3. The appropriations for the Bureau of Construction and Repair for 1889-90 provided for the purchase or construction by contract of four steam tugs. After inspection by a board of officers the steam tug Douglass H. Thomas was purchased and assigned to the Washington DC Navy Yard, her name being changed to Triton. The Board also inspected the tug Volunteer. If her purchase were to be concluded there would have remained as of October 1889 two tugs to be built by contract, and bids for these within the limit fixed by Congress were received. The Bureau estimated a cost of $80,000 for the two tugs. These plans fell through, and the three remaining tugs were advertised for on the Department's plans and specifications, the bids to be opened on 12 June 1890. No bids were received on account of the technical requirements for the steel. They were re-advertised for 3 September 1890 with modified steel requirements, bids were received on 6 October 1890 within the Congressional limits, and the contracts were awarded.
YT-4. The 1894 appropriation bill contained a provision appropriating $50,000 for the construction of a steam tug at the Mare Island Navy Yard. The plans and specs were by the Bureau.
YT-5. The appropriations act for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1896 included under "Public Works" funds for the construction of one steam tug for the Navy Yard at League Island, Pa. Plans and specifications were prepared and the necessary orders to build were issued on 26 June 1895 to the commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
YT 6-7. The naval appropriation for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1897 authorized the construction of two steam tugs, one for the naval station at Port Royal and the other for the Puget Sound Naval Station. The Department having approved the recommendation of the Bureau of Construction & Repair to build the tugs at navy yards, instructions were issued for the construction of one boat at the New York Navy Yard and the other at Mare Island.
YT 8-9. Congress in an act approved on 1 July 1902 authorized the construction of tug boats 8 and 9 which were ordered built at the Boston and Mare Island Navy Yards respectively.
Ship Notes:
| Tug # | Name | Notes |
| -- | TRITON | Built for P. Dougherty & Co. of Baltimore as DOUGLASS H. THOMAS. To YT-10 17 Jul 20. Merc. MELROSE 1930. Sank in commercial service 30 Dec 1962. |
| 1 | WAHNETA | Auth. 2 Mar 89. To YT-1 17 Jul 20. Merc. CARL D. COLONNA 1922, BU 1963. |
| 2 | IWANA | Auth. 2 Mar 89. To YT-2 17 Jul 20. Name dropped to allow YT-272 to take up name 5 Oct 42. To YTM-2 15 May 44. Merc. JOSEPH YORK 1946, BU 1967. |
| 3 | NARKEETA | Auth. 2 Mar 89. To YT-3 17 Jul 20. Merc. EDWARD L. CARD 1927. BU ca. 1941-42. |
| 4 | UNADILLA | Auth. 26 Jul 94. To YT-4 17 Jul 20. To YTM-4 15 May 44. Probably BU 1947-48. |
| 5 | SAMOSET | Auth. 2 Mar 95. To YT-5 17 Jul 20. Name dropped, probably in 1943 to prevent confusion with tanker of same name. To YTM-5 15 May 44. Merc. OSCAR F. SMITH 1947. Wrecked 15 Feb 1989. |
| 6 | PENACOOK | Auth. 3 Mar 97. To YT-6 17 Jul 20. To YTM-6 15 May 44. Merc. DOWNER 1947. Sank at pier 16 Aug 1998. |
| 7 | PAWTUCKET | Auth. 3 Mar 97. To YT-7 17 Jul 20. To YTM-7 15 May 44. Merc. PAWTUCKET by 1950. Burned while underway in Alaska 4 Dec 1965. |
| 8 | PENTUCKET | Auth. 1 Jul 02. To YT-8 17 Jul 20. Merc. PENTUCKET 1937. BU 1954. |
| 9 | SOTOYOMO | Auth. 1 Jul 02. To YT-9 17 Jul 20. Damaged at Pearl Harbor 7 Dec 41. To YTM-9 15 May 44. In poor condition at Leyte Sep 45, scuttled there 15 Feb 46. |
Page Notes:
YT 1889
Compiled: 25 Nov 2025
© Stephen S. Roberts, 2002-2025
Special sources: The author is indebted to www.navsource.net for much of the information in the three tables above as well as for some of the photos. The characteristics and the acquisition histories are mostly from the annual reports of the Bureau of Construction & Repair.