Notes: The first four units of this class had been transferred to the French Indochina administration in the final years before South Vietnam became independent, and were then inherited by the new South Vietnamese navy. YTL-452 and YTL-586 had served the USN at Naval Base Da Nang during the Vietnam War, YTL-456 had served at Subic Bay, Philippines during the same time frame. These ships were simple, basic daylight berthing tugs. As built, they had a shrouded propeller to protect it from grounding. Some of the units later had this removed as a maintenance headache. These craft were designed to be regularly lifted out of the water and serviced ashore.

All were captured intact by the advancing communist forces in April 1975. The unified Vietnamese navy retained them in service. Because of their very simple design, they were not greatly affected by the American arms embargo.

In 2008, it was reported that the Vietnamese navy had turned these ships over to the civilian government. This is quite possible as at least one is now wearing a non-naval alphanumeric hull number and the sailors manning her were in civilian clothes.

As a historical note, YTL-152 was present at Pearl Harbor, HI on 7 December 1941 although in an out-of-the-way anchorage not attacked. Along with the ex-USS Hoga (YT-146) in the USN inactive fleet (which actually was on battleship row during the attack), she is only one of two vessels from that day still afloat.

Displacement: 70t standard, 80t full Dimensions: 66’2”x17’x14’11” Machinery: 1 Hoover-Owens-Rentschler diesel, 1 shaft w/3-bladed non-CP shrouded propeller Max speed: 10kts Range: (not intended for long voyages) Complement: 4