US Army WT85 Protrude

US Army WT85 Protrude is a tow/tug boat built in 1943 by John Wright and Son Shipyards, in Tuncurry, Australia. After the entry of the United States in World War 2 in 1941, The United States Army ordered five 45-foot-long wooden tug/tow boats through the Ministry of Munitions. Wooden support craft were preferred over metal-hulled ships for reasons of security against mines.[2][3][4]

Name: US Army WT85 "Protrude"
Ordered: 1941
Builder: John Wright and Son Shipyards
Launched: 1943
Completed: 1944
Identification: 191328[1]/53877
Fate: ongoing restoration
General characteristics
Type: Tugboat
Tonnage: 18.9
Length: 45 feet
Beam: 15 feet
Draught: 7 feet
Installed power: 135 BHP Cummins Diesel. 6-cylinder
Propulsion: single screw

The last of these was the WT85, later to be named Koolya when acquired by the Royal Australian Navy. On 24 July 1944 WT85 was taken out over the bar at Tuncurry by a local fishing boat, the Eldorado then handed over to US Army WT68. In 1948 the boat was sold to the ferry operators Nicholson Bros. Harbour Transport, and named Protrude.[5][6] Other craft run by Nicholson also were named with the prefix "pro". Such as the Promise, Protex, Protest, Prolong, Promote and Proclaim.[7][8]

Since the second world war the Protrude has had many owners, roles and re-fittings. It is one of the last surviving craft built by John Wright and Son Shipyards. As of 2020, the former WT85 is moored at Elvina Bay.[5]

References
  1. "Protrude". Australian Government - Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  2. "The WT85 - the only surviving vessel built at Wright's Tuncurry shipyard". Manning River Times - Chris Borough & Graham Nicholson. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  3. "Builders Certificate US Army WT 85 Protrude Built by Ernest Wright & Son Shipyards Tuncurry 1943 - Issued after war service on 15th December 1948 (Signed by John Wright jnr)". Ministry of Munitions. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  4. "45 Foot Wooden Tug Profile". Australian Military Forces - Tugs, Wooden, 45 feet. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  5. "John Wright & Sons Shipyards Tuncurry 1943 built US Army WT85 / Protrude - June 2019". Flickr - Black Diamond Images. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  6. "'US Army WT85' (1944 - ) - also 'Koolya' and 'Protrude'". National Library of Australia - Trove. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  7. "Ferry Services" (PDF). Newsheet - Balmain Associated Incorporated. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  8. Asa Wahlquist. "Sailing Sabots at Snails Bay, Balmain Library Exhibition". Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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