Some time ago, someone here asked whether there were ny A.G. gun crews on board Army Transport Service vessels, specifically tugs. This, after all this time, may answer the question.
January 5, 2011 10:22:36 AM Re: AG's From: Ron Stahl View
I just received an email from Frances Thronson regarding your query of Naval AG’s on the Army’s Little Ships (small boats). I have witnessed one occasion on the East Coast. To my knowledge the only time the AG’s were used was on the 149’ Diesel electric L.T. tugs which had at the time ATS crews. These L.T. tugs had a 3” 50 cal DP gun on the foredeck. Eventually the Navy took over all ships of this class and changed their designation to ATA’s.
As a side note, while serving on the Little Ships in the SWP, any time our boat was to cruise into hostile waters we took aboard Army GIs from the 35th Transportation Corps, Harborcraft, Ship and Gun crew to man our 20mm and 50cal. AA guns.
These GIs were normally assigned to operate small craft such as LCMs, tugs, barges, cranes and lighters to off-load ships at anchor.
There were Coast Guard and Navy manned FS boats with their own crewmen manning the weapons.
About ’45 the Army Air Force sent several flush deck FS Aircraft Repair boats (sister-ships to the USS Pueblo) with a Civil Service manned Complement and Air Force Technicians that also manned the 40mm and 4-20mm guns.
Since Jan 1,2000, I cannot speak on the subjejct, but up to that date (final handover of remainng canal real eastate to Panama after a 20-year phased agreement), he US Army was operating many small craft in the Panama Canal. They were fine boat handlers who kept me supplied with ammo and other "consumables" that my remote radio-research site needed. Alas, there were no AG personnel involved then - but I bet they were in the "Zone" in WWII.