While not glamorous ships fleet tugs are a vital part of any navy. Without them and the men who sail them many a ship and sailor would not have returned home. Sometimes however they become the target.

On Aug. 27, 1952 the USS Sarsi ATF-111 was the victim of a drifting mine off the Korean coast. Sarsi was built in 1943 and served in the freezing cold of the Aleutians during World War 2. Following the war she was sent to warmer waters off California and even operated off Panama and Hawaii. She was back in the Aleutians in 1952 for a brief period before returning to San Diego and finally to Korea.

During the Korean War she operated between Korea and Japan transporting supplies and performing salvage, towing, patrol and escort duties. It was during her patrol off Hugnam, Korea that she hit a mine. It is thought that the mine had been dislodged during the typhoon that hit on the 20th as the area she was operating in had been swept earlier.

The Sarsi sank 20 minutes later taking five men with her. Those who survived were not picked up until the following morning.

© 2006 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com

Carter, Hampton Curtis

Steward 2nd Class

USN

Demarest, Herbert Elwood

Radioman 2nd Class

USN

Kunsch, Jr., Charles Henry

Deck Cadet 1st Class

USN

Parrish, Raymond Shirley

Quartermaster

USN

Slattery, Robert Thomas

Radioman 2nd Class

USN

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