USS Kennebago

Last updated

USS Kennebago (AO-81) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA), 16 December 1943 (19-N-57871).jpg
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameUSS Kennebago
Namesake Kennebago River in Maine
Laid down9 January 1943
Launched9 May 1943
Acquired30 July 1943
Commissioned4 December 1943
Decommissioned19 July 1946
Acquired1 October 1949
In serviceSeptember 1950, as USNS Kennebago (T-AO-80)
Out of service27 November 1957
In service23 May 1958
Out of service22 May 1959
Stricken(date unknown)
Honors and
awards
6 battle stars (World War II)
Fate
  • Acquired by the US Army, 20 May 1966
  • Scrapped, 1971
General characteristics
Type Escambia-class replenishment oiler
Displacement
  • 5,782 long tons (5,875 t) light
  • 21,880 long tons (22,231 t) full
Length523 ft 6 in (159.56 m)
Beam68 ft (21 m)
Draft30 ft 10 in (9.40 m)
Propulsion Turbo-electric, single screw, 8,000 shp (5,966 kW)
Speed
  • 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) (econ.)
  • 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph) (max.)
Capacity140,000 barrels (22,000 m3)
Complement267 to 300
Armament

USS Kennebago (AO-81) was an Escambia-class replenishment oiler serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down on 9 January 1943, she was named for the Kennebago River located in Rangeley, Maine.

Contents

Kennebago, a type T2-SE-A2 tanker hull, was built at Marinship, Sausalito, California, and launched on 9 May 1943, sponsored by Mrs. W. E. Waste, the ship was commissioned by the US Navy on 4 December 1943.

Service history

United States Navy, 19431946

After an initial shakedown cruise off the west coast, Kennebago departed San Diego on 24 January 1944 for various bases in the Aleutians carrying fuel oil and aviation gasoline. She returned to San Diego on 28 February, loaded with fuel, and departed for the Marshall Islands. She arrived on 15 April and continued to make fueling runs from Pearl Harbor to the Marshalls.

After the United States invasion of the Marianas, Kennebago departed the Marshalls on 19 June, and arrived in Saipan on 22 June to refuel ships of the 5th Fleet. After continuing refueling operations in the area, she departed Manus on 9 October to rendezvous with Vice Admiral Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force, Task Force 38, conducting operations in the Philippine Sea. After refueling ships until 23 October, she departed for Ulithi, continuing to refuel ships east of the Philippines until 25 December. Next, she would support the landing operations in Lingayen Gulf, fueling ships that were operating as part of the task force. She continued on refueling operations in the theater until 6 April 1945, when she would sail for Los Angeles, California, arriving there 24 April.

After a brief overhaul, Kennebago was again ready for operations in the Western Pacific, departing on 12 June, after brief stops in San Francisco, California, and Pearl Harbor. After arriving back at Ulithi on 4 July, she continued refueling ships operating in Japanese waters off Honshū.

After the Japanese surrender, she operated out of Okinawa until 9 October, when she would steam to Taku, China to support the United States 7th Fleet in support of the Nationalist Chinese troops fighting the Communist Chinese for control of China. After returning to Pearl Harbor on 28 December, she returned to Hong Kong on 26 January 1946 and sailed for San Francisco on 17 February. Once returning stateside, Kennebago sailed for Boston, Massachusetts on 28 March, arriving 19 April.

Military Sea Transportation Service, 19491959

After over a year, Kennebago was transferred to the Maritime Commission on 27 May 1947 as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. She was reacquired by the United States Navy on 1 October 1949 and was placed in service with the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Kennebago (T-AO-81) in September 1950. After serving in the Korean War and supporting the American naval power during the early Cold War, she was released to the Maritime Administration on 27 November 1957 in Beaumont, Texas. Again, she was reacquired by the Navy on 23 May 1958 for logistical supply in the Pacific. During 1959, she served the 6th Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea. After returning to New York City on 22 May 1959 she was transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet again in the James River, Virginia on 23 June 1959.

United States Army, 19661971

On 20 May 1966, Kennebago served her final mission for the United States Army in Vietnam. Together with Tamalpais (AO-96), the ship served as a floating power station anchored near Nha Trang, Vietnam, until at least May 1971.

Awards, Citations, Campaign Ribbons

USS Kennebago earned seven different awards throughout the course of her career. She has earned the China Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, six Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals, the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp), the National Defense Service Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Pecos</i> (AO-65) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Pecos (AO–65) was laid down 20 April 1942 by the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. as a type T3-SE-A1 tanker, Chester, Pennsylvania, as Corsicana ; launched 17 August acquired by the Navy 29 August 1942; and commissioned 5 October 1942.

USS <i>Cimarron</i> (AO-22) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Cimarron (AO-22) was a Cimarron-class oiler serving with the United States Navy and the second ship to be named for the Cimarron River in the Southwestern United States. She was launched 7 January 1939 by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Chester, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Mrs. William D. Leahy; and commissioned 20 March 1939.

USS <i>Kaskaskia</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Kaskaskia (AO-27) was a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler serving in the United States Navy, named for the Kaskaskia River in Illinois.

USS <i>Neosho</i> (AO-48) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Neosho (AO–48) was a Kennebec-class type T2 fleet oiler of the United States Navy. The ship was laid down on 8 July 1941, as SS Catawba, by the Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard Inc., Sparrows Point, Maryland. The purchase came under Maritime Commission contract number 145 for the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, later renamed Mobil Oil.

USS <i>Neches</i> (AO-47) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Neches (AO-47) was a Kennebec-class oiler in the United States Navy during World War II and the Vietnam War. She was the second U.S. Navy ship named for the Neches River in eastern Texas.

USS <i>Suamico</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Suamico (AO-49) was the lead ship of her class of Type T2-SE-A1 fleet oilers of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Saugatuck</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Saugatuck (AO-75) was a Suamico-class replenishment oiler of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Tallulah</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Tallulah (AO-50), originally named the SS Valley Forge, was a Type T2-SE-A1 Suamico-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Millicoma</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Millicoma (AO-73) was a United States Navy fleet oiler which served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, winning eight battle stars for her dangerous work. Post-war she was recommissioned and was placed under the control of the MSTS with a civilian crew until finally assigned for disposal in 1987.

USS <i>Saranac</i> (AO-74) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Saranac (AO-74), originally named the SS Cowpens, was a Type T2-SE-A1 Suamico-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy, and the fourth ship of the Navy to bear the name.

USS <i>Cowanesque</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Cowanesque (AO-79) was a Type T2-SE-A1 Suamico-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy during World War II.

USS <i>Caliente</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Caliente (AO-53) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler built during World War II for the U.S. Navy. During her career in the Pacific Ocean, Caliente participated in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. She was highly decorated for fulfilling her dangerous mission of carrying fuel into battle areas. She received ten battle stars for World War II, four for the Korean War and eight campaign stars for the Vietnam War.

USS <i>Lamons</i> Cannon-class destroyer escort

USS Lamons (DE-743) was a Cannon-class destroyer escortin service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was sold for scrapping in 1973.

USS <i>Sebec</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Sebec (AO-87) was a Escambia-class fleet oiler acquired by the United States Navy for use during World War II. She had the dangerous but necessary task of providing fuel to vessels in combat and non-combat areas primarily in the Pacific Ocean. For her valiant efforts, she received six battle stars during the war.

USS <i>Escambia</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Escambia (AO-80) was the lead ship of her subclass of the Suamico class of fleet oilers acquired by the United States Navy for use during World War II. She had the dangerous, but necessary task of providing fuel to vessels in combat and non-combat areas primarily in the Pacific Ocean. For her valiant efforts, she received five battle stars during the war.

USS <i>Cahaba</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Cahaba (AO-82) was an Escambia-class replenishment oiler acquired by the United States Navy for use during World War II. She had the dangerous but necessary task of providing fuel to vessels in combat and non-combat areas primarily in the Pacific Ocean. For her brave efforts, she received eight battle stars during the war.

USS <i>Pamanset</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Pamanset (AO-85) was a Escambia-class replenishment oiler acquired by the United States Navy for use during World War II. She had the dangerous but necessary task of providing fuel to vessels in combat and non-combat areas.

USS <i>Ashtabula</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Ashtabula (AO-51) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy in service from 1943 to 1991. She survived three wars and was awarded eight battle stars for World War II service, four battle stars for Korean War service, and eight campaign stars for Vietnam War service. In the mid-1960s Ashtabula became the lead ship of her class, when she and seven other Cimarron-class oilers were lengthened ("jumboized"). She has been the only U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Ashtabula, after the City of Ashtabula which was named after the Ashtabula River in northeast Ohio.

USS <i>Kern</i> Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Kern (AOG-2) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

USS <i>Jicarilla</i> Abnaki-class tugboat

USS Jicarilla (ATF-104) was Abnaki-class tugboat during the World War II. The ship was later sold to Colombia as ARC Sebastián De Belalcázar (RM-73). Her namesake is a group of the Apache tribe found in the southwestern United States.

References