Wow, this one sure started some debate. I think the photography is just fine, but with all respect to the folks who were trying to identify this hulk as a subchaser and whatnot- here's the Real story. The ship is one of a series of wooden armed salvage tugs built in WWII on both the west and east coasts of the United States. The ATR vessels (Armed Tug Rescue) were powerful steam tugs designed to tow damaged battleships out of combat areas. One, the ATR 64, now named La Lumiere, is still afloat at Brittania Beach, just north of Vancouver BC, & efforts are being made to preserve the ship. There is another hulk ATR tug at Royston on Vancouver Island ,BC. and another abandoned in a harbour in southern Chile. Tons of pictures of these vessels on a site called NAFTS.com, dedicated to those who served in the fleet tugs in WWII. Anyways, they are built of Douglas fir with steel sheathing on the bow, with the tip of the bow angled back in so they can push on the much larger stricken vessels they were intended to assist.

Nice collection. When I see these pictures I wonder about the history of the different vessels, their crews, all those people whose lives were once entwined with these ships, the skill and months of labour that went into building them, the endless maintenance that kept them alive.