The USS Nokomis (YT-142/YTB-142/YTM-142) was a Woban-class harbor tug constructed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. Launched on November 29, 1939, and completed in March 1940, she was designed as a diesel-electric tug, a vital support vessel for naval operations. She was initially assigned to the 14th Naval District, based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During her service at Pearl Harbor, Nokomis played a significant role during the attack on December 7, 1941. She was the first vessel on the scene at the USS Arizona but was called away due to the imminent explosion of its submerged battery. She subsequently assisted in beaching the USS Nevada, alongside other vessels, to prevent the battleship from blocking the harbor’s entrance. Following this, Nokomis undertook firefighting and dewatering operations on the USS California for three days, efforts that contributed to saving the vessel for future service. She was also the last vessel to move the surviving YC-699 barge prior to the attack, underscoring her importance in the harbor's emergency response. Reclassified as YTB–142 in 1944, Nokomis remained actively engaged in harbor duties throughout World War II and beyond, serving until her decommissioning in May 1973. After decommissioning and being stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, she was sold in 1974 to Crowley Maritime Corporation, renamed Sea Serpent, and operated in San Francisco Bay for many years as a commercial tug and fireboat. Notably, in 1989, she participated in firefighting efforts during the aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake. In 2002, she was rediscovered in the mudflats of Hunters Point, San Francisco, and acquired by the Historic Tugboat Education and Restoration Society (HTERS). She was intended to serve as an educational vessel, but financial difficulties led to her being scrapped in 2010. As one of the last surviving vessels from the Pearl Harbor attack, Nokomis holds notable maritime historical significance, exemplifying the service and resilience of support ships during pivotal moments in naval history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.