USS ATA-218

USS ATA-218 was an ATA-214-class tug of the United States Navy built near the end of World War II. Originally laid down as Yaupon (YN-96), a net tender of the Ailanthus-class net laying ship, she was redesignated as AN-72, a net layer, before launch. Before completion, the name Yaupon was cancelled and the ship was named ATA-218, an unnamed auxiliary ocean tug.

Career
ATA-218 was laid down as Yaupon (AN-72) on 29 January 1944 at Slidell, Louisiana, by the Canulette Shipbuilding Company. Her name was cancelled on 12 August 1944, and she was designated ATA-218. She was launched on 16 September 1944 and commissioned on 10 March 1945.

Information regarding ATA-218's brief Navy career is almost totally lacking. Even her decommissioning date is unknown. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 17 April 1946, and she was sold through the War Shipping Administration on 3 January 1947. Presumably, she was scrapped.