High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Alsea (AT-97) was an Abnaki-class of fleet ocean tug. It was named after the Alsea Native American tribe in Oregon. Alsea was laid down on 29 November 1942, at Charleston, South Carolina, by the Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Company; launched on 22 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Grace Wynn; and commissioned on 13 December 1943, Lieutenant Cecil Cuthbert in command. The tug completed shakedown training in Chesapeake Bay early in January 1944 and began antisubmarine warfare training at Casco Bay, Maine. In February, she entered Boston, Massachusetts for repairs and more training. The tug moved to New York City on the night of 3 March and remained there until getting underway on 26 March with a convoy of tugs towing 36 vehicle-transport barges to Great Britain in preparation for the invasion of France. After a stormy voyage, during which the convoy was attacked by a U-boat which was driven off by escort ships, Alsea and her tow reached Falmouth, England on 19 April. Alsea visited Milford Haven in Wales and Belfast in Northern Ireland. She returned to Norfolk, Virginia, on 11 May. On 15 May, she was redesignated ATF-97.