From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

An invitation to engage in a contest.

AT: dp. 346 l. 122' b. 22'2"

dr. 12'6" s. 14 k. cpl. 31 a. 2 x 3-pdr.

Challenge (No. 1015) was built in 1889 by J. H. Dialogue and Sons, Camden, N.J., as the tug Defiance; commandeered by the Navy 13 June 1918; delivered 24 June; outfitted at Mare Island Navy Yard; and commissioned 29 July 1918, Lieutenant M. J. Downes, USNRF, in command. She was renamed Challenge 15 August 1918.

Challenge towed oil barges between California and Mexico until 31 May 1920, when she arrived at Bremerton, Wash., for duty under the 13th Naval District. She served as a harbor tug at Puget Sound Navy Yard until decommissioned 13 May 1922.

Recommissioned and reclassified AT-59 on 21 February 1925, Challenge resumed duty as a yard tug at Puget Sound. On 31 January 1936, she was reclassified YT-126; on 2 December 1940, decommissioned and placed "in service"; reclassified YTM-126 on 13 April 1944; and on 16 October 1946, transferred to the Maritime Commission.