USS Conestoga (AT 54)

One hundred years ago on March 25, USS Conestoga left Mare Island Naval Yard, California for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and was expected to arrive safely at port on April 5. The vessel vanished with 56 sailors on board, and was officially declared lost with all crew on June 30, 1921. For years Conestoga and its crew lived on solely in the hearts and minds of the loved ones left behind, but in September 2014, during an expedition with NOAA's Maritime Heritage Program in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, an unknown wreck was discovered, and later confirmed in 2015 to be the final resting place of USS Conestoga. Recognized as one of the top maritime unsolved mysteries in U.S. Naval history, and considered an important relic representing America's past as a seafaring nation, the wreck is federally protected under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the Sunken Military Craft Act.

One hundred years later, we revisit the story of the people who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Join us for a live webinar on March 25, 2021 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. PDT / 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. EDT to honor the 100th anniversary of the USS Conestoga.

Three Miles from Safety: The Story of the USS Conestoga

When you think of the might and power of the U.S. Navy, the first thing that comes to mind is not likely to be a tugboat. More likely, you picture a formidable aircraft carrier or a well-armed battleship, operated by hundreds and often thousands of sailors. A tug is an afterthought, if it's a thought at all. So why is the USS Conestoga -- a Navy fleet tug -- so important?

blue ocean film festival 2016 finalist

"Three Miles from Safety: The Story of the USS Conestoga" is a Blue Ocean Film Festival finalist in the 2016 Educational Non-Broadcast Program and Marine History, Archaeology, and Anthropological Perspectives categories, and an official selection at the 2016 Miami VETfest.

Conestoga. Credit: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command NH 89793

Early History

Conestoga wwas built for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company by the Maryland Steel Company shipyard at Sparrow’s Point in Baltimore, Maryland, to tow coal schooner barges. The tug was launched on Thursday, November 12, 1903. Maryland Steel delivered Conestoga to the railroad owner on February 6, 1904. Conestoga hauled coal along the coast to keep the railroad running. According to an article in the trade journal Marine Engineering in 1904, "These tugs are under steam, with but short intermissions, for months at a time. As soon as they bring one tow of barges into port another one for the return trip is assembled and the tug boat starts out to sea with only a few hours' delay for coaling and taking on provisions and stores."

Conestoga plans from marine engineering 1904

Deck and Longitudinal View of Conestoga, as reproduced in Marine Engineering 1904 Vol. 9, page 36. Credit: Robert Schwemmer Maritime Library

san francisco chronicle front page headline about the disappearence of the Conestoga

Conestoga Joins the Navy

With the outbreak of World War I and United States' subsequent entry into the conflict, the U.S. Navy purchased Conestoga in September 1917. The Dictionary of American Fighting Ships briefly notes Conestoga's naval career:

Assigned to the Submarine Force, Conestoga carried out towing duties along the Atlantic coast, transported supplies and guns, escorted convoys to Bermuda and the Azores, and cruised with the American Patrol Detachment in the vicinity of the Azores. At the end of the war she was attached to Naval Base No. 13, Azores, from which she towed disabled ships and escorted convoys until her arrival at New York 26 September 1919. She was then assigned to harbor tug duty in the 5th Naval District at Norfolk. Ordered to duty as station ship at Tutuila, American Samoa, Conestoga underwent alterations and fitting out at Norfolk, and cleared Hampton Roads 18 November 1920 for the Pacific. Arriving at San Diego 7 January 1921, she continued to Mare Island 17 February for voyage repairs. Conestoga put to sea from Mare Island for Samoa (via Peral Harbor) 25 March 1921. No further word was ever received from the ship or from her crew of 56. A lifeboat with the letter "C" on the bow was located by the steamship Senator 17 May 1921 in 18°15' N., 115°42' W. but a thorough search of the islands in the vicinity by all available naval and air forces, could locate neither men nor wreckage. Conestoga was declared lost with all her crew 30 June 1921.

Final Voyage of the USS Conestoga

Nov. 18, 1920 - Left Norfolk, VA with U.S. Navy barge #468 for the Pacific

Nov. 23, 1920 - Arrived Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Dec. 21, 1920 - Passed through the Panama Canal into the Pacific

Dec. 27, 1921 - Arrived Salina Cruz, MX

Jan. 21, 1921 - Arrived at San Diego, CA

Feb. 17, 1921 - Departed for Mare Island, CA

Mar. 25, 1921 - Departed Mare Island for Samoa via Pearl Harbor, HI

June 30, 1921 - Declared lost with all crew members

planned route that the uss conestoge was to take from norfolk, va to pearl harbor, hi

Discovering Conestoga

During a Maritime Heritage cruise in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in September 2014, a previously undocumented multibeam sonar target thought to be a shipwreck was investigated. It was found to be an unknown vessel of late 19th or early 20th century vintage whose characteristics matched none of the ships known to have been lost in Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Utilizing a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) launched from the R/V Fulmar, three survey dives were conducted to characterize the target, which proved to be a 170-foot-long steel-hulled steam-powered oceangoing tug.

The wreck was indeed a "mystery" and its discovery was announced with other wrecks discovered as part of the 2014 survey. The wreck was identified as USS Conestoga after reviewing historical accounts of tugs that departed the Golden Gate and were never seen again and a detailed analysis of the "mystery" tug's features. A subsequent mission to the wreck in October 2015 provided additional information on the site with selective ROV penetration of the hull and careful examination of diagnostic features which included a 3-inch/50 caliber gun.

Download the archaeological report

James Delgado, Director of Maritime Heritage for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, explains the importance of the discovery of the USS Conestoga.