USS Sotoyomo (YTM-9)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Sotoyomo.

USS Sotoyomo (YTM-9/YT-9/Harbor Tug No.9) was a harbor tug built at the turn of the twentieth century. She saw service in both World War I and World War II and was heavily damaged by the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The name Sotoyomo commemorates a part of the Sioux tribe of Indians. Sotoyomo was the oldest vessel at Pearl Harbor in service at the time of the attack.

USS Sotoyomo (YTM-9)

USS Sotoyomo in Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Washington.
History
United States
Builder	Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California
Laid down	2 March 1903
Launched	20 August 1903
Christened	21 April 1904
Completed	1 March 1904
Commissioned	1 July 1911
Reclassified	YT-9 – 17 July 1920 YTM-9 – 15 May 1944
Stricken	26 February 1946
Identification	Harbor Tug No.9
Honors and awards	World War I Victory Medal  American Defense Service Medal  Combat Action Ribbon (Attack on Pearl Harbor)  American Campaign Medal  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal  World War II Victory Medal  1 battle stars (World War II)
Fate	Scuttled off Leyte, September 1946
General characteristics
Type	Harbor tug
Displacement	230 tons
Length	97 ft (30 m)
Beam	21 ft 11 in (6.68 m)
Draft	9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Installed power	one 13" x 32" steam engine one coal-fired single ended cylindrical boiler,
Propulsion	single propeller 450shp
Speed	11.1 kn (20.6 km/h; 12.8 mph)
Complement	9

History

Sotoyomo was laid down 2 March 1903, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, she was launched 20 August 1903. She served in both World War I and World War II.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

USS Sotoyomo was in the same floating dry dock when the USS Shaw exploded: 7 December 1941

Sotoyomo was in floating dry dock YFD-2 with USS Shaw undergoing overhaul when Pearl Harbor was attacked 7 December 1941. Explosions and fires on Shaw greatly damaged Sotoyomo which resulted in total submersion. Originally, Sotoyomo was deemed a total loss, but she was later refloated, repaired, and rehabilitated.

Further service in World War II

Sotoyomo served throughout World War II in various locations across the Pacific including Naval Base Noumea, Naval Base Guadalcanal and Naval Base Philippines at Naval Base Leyte. In Leyte, in September 1945, she was declared in very poor shape and taken out of service. On 15 February 1946, she was scuttled off Leyte. She was struck from the Naval Register on 26 February 1946.

Awards

	World War I Victory Medal
	American Defense Service Medal
	Combat Action Ribbon (Attack on Pearl Harbor)
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal
	1 battle star (World War II)

Notes

• "Sotoyomo I (YT-9)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
• Silverstone, Paul H. (2006). The New Navy, 1883–1922. New York: Routledge. p. 195. ISBN 0-415-97871-8.