USS Lykens ( AT - 56 ) USS " Lykens " ( SP - 876 / AT - 56 ) was a steam tugboat purchased from the Reading Company by the United States Navy in 1917 . Because she was privately built , she was not of a ship class . She was the only U . S . Navy ship of this name . The ship served on the East Coast , in Bermuda , and in the Azores during World War I . After the war , she operated from New York and Norfolk , Virginia until decommissioning in 1922 . She was considered one of the most powerful tugs in the Navy during her career . " Lykens " was sold in 1934 . History . " Lykens " was built in 1899 by Neafie and Levy Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia for the Reading Company . On 17 September 1903 , " Lykens " rescued the captain of tug " Spartan " which had sunk the previous night in a gale off Lewes , Delaware . A storm on 10 January 1911 caused coal barges " Treverton " , " Corbin " , and " Pine Forest " , under tow by " Lykens " , to break free of the tow near the Cape Cod Light . The 12 men crewing " Treverton " and " Corbin " were drowned when their barges broke up within an hour . The five men aboard " Pine Forest " were all drowned when their lifeboat was swamped in the rough surf . " Lykens " and local lifesavers watching from the shore were helpless to provide any assistance because of the severity of the storm . Despite the accident , " Lykens " remained a frequent visitor to ports in New England . On 4 February 1917 , " Lykens " was inspected by the 4th Naval District of the U . S . Navy . After the U . S . had entered World War I , " Lykens " was purchased by the Navy on 18 September 1917 . She was commissioned USS " Lykens " ( SP - 876 ) on 10 November 1917 at Philadelphia , Lt . ( jg . ) H . G . Robinson , USNRF , in command . " Lykens " performed towing duties along the east coast , to Bermuda , and the Azores throughout World War I . On 24 February 1918 , " Lykens " , along with , and set sail from Newport , Rhode Island , rendezvousing with eleven submarine chaser s en route . Though " Mariner " foundered and sank along the journey , all the other ships arrived at Bermuda on 1 March . On 15 April , " Lykens " set sail from Bermuda in the company of " Wadena " , seven submarine chasers , and United States Army tug " Knickerbocker " , arriving at Ponta Delgada in the Azores on 27 April . After the war she was assigned to district towing and auxiliary operations , out of the 3d ( New York ) and 5th ( Norfolk ) Naval Districts . " Lykens " continued these duties until she decommissioned at New York 23 March 1920 . She recommissioned as AT ‑ 56 17 June 1920 , Lt . G . Freudendorf in command , and served as a fleet tug in the 3d Naval District out of New York . On 30 April 1921 " Lykens " and Coast Guard Cutter were dispatched to assist submarine that had grounded off Montauk Point in Block Island Sound . " Lykens " and " Acushnet " were delayed by heavy fog and did not reach the stranded sub before the tide lifted it from its perch . In late 1921 the engines from the Navy ’ s four Lake Torpedo Boat - built " N " - class submarine s were removed to be installed in more modern " L " - class submarine s . In early 1922 , " Lykens " got the call to tow three of the engineless subs from New London , Connecticut , to Philadelphia for decommissioning and scrapping . She towed in late January , in February , and in April . " Lykens " was decommissioned on 9 December 1922 and kept in reserve until 3 February 1934 , when she was sold to Northern Metal Co . of Philadelphia . Her ultimate fate is unknown .