USS Choctaw (AT-70)

USS Choctaw (AT-70) was a United States Navy Navajo-class fleet tugboat commissioned in 1943 and decommissioned in 1946. She served primarily in the Pacific Theater during World War II, providing towing, salvage, and rescue services.

Choctaw was named after the Choctaw Native American tribe. As a fleet tug, she was designed to provide assistance to damaged or disabled vessels and to tow ships and barges over long distances. Her duties included towing damaged ships back to port for repair, rescuing stranded vessels, and assisting in the construction and maintenance of naval facilities.

During her service, Choctaw participated in various operations, including supporting the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She performed essential tasks such as towing damaged vessels from combat zones, thus keeping vital sea lanes open and contributing to the overall war effort.

Following the end of World War II, USS Choctaw was decommissioned and eventually sold for scrap. Despite her relatively short period of active service, she played a crucial role in supporting naval operations in the Pacific.