"moctobi" was laid down as at‑105 by charleston shipbuilding & drydock co. at charleston, south carolina on 7 october 1943. she was launched on 25 march 1944 with mrs. wade c. harrison as her sponsor. the tug was reclassified atf‑105 on 15 may 1944 and commissioned into the united states navy at charleston on 25 july 1944, lt. troy braesher in command.