USS Narragansett (AT-88) was a constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in the Atlantic Ocean and, at war’s end, returned home with three battle stars to her credit. The fourth Narragansett to be so named by the U.S. Navy, AT-88 was laid down on 31 January 1942 by the Cramp Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia; launched on 8 August 1942, sponsored by Miss Lois Kinehen Hill, and commissioned on 15 January 1943. World War II Atlantic Ocean operations Following shakedown of the Middle Atlantic seaboard and gunnery and anti-submarine training at Casco Bay, Narragansett departed American waters on 1 April 1943, in convoy for Gibraltar and the Mediterranean theater. Arriving at Gibraltar on the 30th, she continued on to Casablanca, thence to Algiers, arriving on 7 May to begin salvage operations along the North African coast under ComNavNAW. Supporting the invasion of Sicily On 6 July, she was detached from those duties and ordered to Bizerte, where she prepared for "Operation Husky", the invasion of Sicily. On the 8th, she departed Bizerte, and by the 10th she was off Seaglitti with "Cent" Force as that force landed near the mouth of the Aeate River on the Camerina Plain. Heavy tolls among the landing craft, caused by heavy surf indefinite landmarks, and inexperienced boat crews, kept the tug busy for the next weeks: at first in the Seaglitti area; then with "Joss" Force at Licata, and finally with "Dime" Force at Gela. By the end of the month she had moved her operation to Palermo, whence she operated until the end of August. Under attack by Luftwaffe aircraft On the 10th of that month she departed Sicily to tow the disabled to Malta, returning in mid-month. At 0430 on 23 August, the Luftwaffe raided Palermo, with bombs scoring on nearby service craft and a near miss wounding two of AT-88's crew. Narragansett's remaining crew immediately set to work to aid the damaged vessels despite explosions which exacted a heavy toll among the fire fighters and damage control sections. Six were dead and 12 seriously wounded before it was over. Supporting the invasion of Italy On 30 August Narragansett returned to North Africa to stage for the invasion of Italy at Salerno. On 7