San Felipe (YFB-12) (ex-Engineer) was a United States Army steel tugboat that later served as a ferryboat in the U.S. Navy and as an Imperial Japanese Army transport during World War II.
She was completed in 1907 at the Hong Kong shipyard of Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Company for the benefit of the United States Army as the steel tugboat, Engineer.[1] [2] On 28 December 1917, she was transferred to the United States Navy and assigned to the United States Asiatic Fleet, 16th Naval District[1] [3] [4] but then returned to the U.S. Army in 1919.[1] On 9 October 1922, she was transferred back to the U.S. Navy, 16th Naval District[1] to replace the Callao (YFB-11).[3] On 1 November 1922,[3] she was renamed San Felipe and designated as ferryboat/launch, YFB-12.[1] She worked as a ferry boat between the Cavite and Manila.[5] On 10 December 1941, she was assigned to the Inshore Patrol and survived the bombing of Cavite Naval Yard and on 8 April 1942, she assisted in the evacuation of personnel from the Mariveles Naval Section Base to Corregidor during the Battle of Bataan.[1] On 6 May 1942, she was captured by Japanese forces after the Fall of Corregidor and returned to service as Imperial Japanese Army transport Aki Maru.[1] Her ultimate fate is unknown.[1]
On 24 July 1942, she was struck from the Naval Register.[1] She earned one battle star.[1]