USS Abatan

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

USS Abatan (AW-4).jpg
Abatan at Mare Island Navy Yard in 1945.
Her camouflage scheme is Measure 32, Design 7AO.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Abatan
Builder Marinship Corporation, Sausalito, California
Laid down9 June 1944
Launched6 August 1944
Commissioned29 January 1945
Decommissioned27 January 1947
Stricken1 July 1960
Reinstated27 September 1962
In service1962
Out of service1979
Stricken1 May 1970
FateSunk as a target, 1980
General characteristics
TypePasig-class distilling ship
Displacement
  • 6,640 long tons (6,747 t) light
  • 23,350 long tons (23,725 t) full
Length523 ft 6 in (159.56 m)
Beam68 ft (21 m)
Draft30 ft 10 in (9.40 m)
PropulsionTurbo-electric, single propeller
Speed15.1 knots (28.0 km/h; 17.4 mph)
Complement265 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Abatan (AW-4) was a Pasig-class distilling ship built for the United States Navy during World War II, named after the Abatan River located in the southwestern part of Bohol Island in the Philippines. [1]

Contents

Originally laid down as SS Mission San Lorenzo under a Maritime Commission contract on 9 June 1944 at Sausalito, California by the Marinship Corporation, she was renamed USS Abatan on 25 July 1944 in anticipation of her acquisition by the Navy and simultaneously designated AO-92 for naval service as an oiler, launched on 6 August 1944, sponsored by Mrs. John A. McCone, transferred to the Navy on 28 November 1944 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, converted there for naval service, completed as a distilling ship, redesignated USS Abatan (AW-4) on 24 August 1944 and placed in commission on 29 January 1945.

Service history

World War II, 1945

Late in February, the new distilling ship got underway for shakedown training off the coast of southern California. She left the continental United States on the 28th and shaped a course for the Western Caroline Islands. After pausing en route at Eniwetok, Abatan reached Ulithi on 21 March and remained there for more than six months providing potable water to various types of landing craft, patrol vessels, and escort ships. During this period of her service, Japan capitulated in mid-August.

Post-war activities, 1945–1946

The ship sailed for Okinawa on 1 October, and stopped en route at Samar, Philippine Islands, to take on fresh water before continuing on to the Ryukyus. She reached her destination on 11 October and began issuing water to various fleet units. The ship left Okinawa on 15 November and set a course for Shanghai, China. She touched at that port on the 18th and remained stationed there through April 1946. The vessel left Chinese waters on 2 May and sailed via Okinawa to the Marshall Islands. Abatan reached Eniwetok on 31 May and assumed duties in connection with "Operation Crossroads," a series of tests conducted to determine the effects of atomic explosions upon warships. She was involved in this project until 27 June, when she weighed anchor and got underway for Kwajalein. The distilling ship arrived there the next day and remained in port providing potable water through 17 July. She then commenced a voyage to the east coast of the United States. The vessel visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in late July; transited the Panama Canal; reported to the Atlantic Fleet in mid-August; and then proceeded to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She arrived there on 20 August and entered a preinactivation availability phase.

Decommissioned, 1947 –1962

Abatan was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 27 January 1947 and was berthed at Philadelphia. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1960, and the ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration for layup in the James River.

Water storage ship, 1962–1979

Abatan was reacquired by the Navy and reinstated on the Navy list on 27 September 1962 for use as a backup fresh water storage ship at the Naval Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. She was again struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1970 but was retained as a hulk for storing water at Guantánamo Bay.

Late in 1979 all desirable equipment was removed from the hull, which was expended as a target on 10 March 1980 approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Guadeloupe at 16 N – 62 W.

Citations

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .
  1. "Abatan (AW-4)". www.history.navy.mil. Naval History and Heritage Command. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2017.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Achomawi</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Achomawi (AT-148/ATF-148) was an Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug in the service of the United States Navy, and was named for the Achomawi tribe of Native Americans.

USS <i>Ponaganset</i> WWII-era American fleet oiler

USS Ponaganset AO-86/AOG-86) was a Suamico-class fleet oiler, of the T2-SE-A2 tanker hull type, serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down on 27 April 1942, she was named for the Ponaganset River located in Foster and Glocester, Rhode Island.

USS <i>Wildcat</i> (AW-2)

USS Wildcat (AW-2), was a Stag-class distilling ship, built for the United States Navy during World War II, the only U.S. Naval vessel to be named for Felis silvestris.

USS <i>Stag</i> United States Navy Ship

USS Stag (AW-1) was one of four water distilling ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. The lead ship of two in her class, she was named for a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae.

USS <i>Alshain</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Alshain (AKA-55) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in the service of the United States Navy. She was named after the star Alshain in the constellation Aquila, and served as a commissioned ship for 11 years and 9 months.

USS <i>Arenac</i> 20th-century American attack transport

USS Arenac (APA-128) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1974.

USS <i>Hocking</i>

USS Hocking (APA-121) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, including participating in the Iwo Jima invasion. She was scrapped in 1974.

USS <i>Pasig</i> (AW-3) Water distilling ship

USS Pasig (AW-3) was one of four water distilling ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. The lead ship in her class, she was named for the Pasig River which flows through Manila on the Island of Luzon, Philippines.

USS <i>LST-31</i> Tank landing ship of the United States Navy

USS LST-31 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not originally named and is properly referred to by her hull designation. Later she was named for Addison County, Vermont. She was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

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

USS Mascoma (AO-83) was a Escambia-class replenishment oiler constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She served her country in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For her very dangerous work under combat conditions, she was awarded seven battle stars by war's end.

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>Ocklawaha</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Oklawaha (AO-84) 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 water to smaller vessels not fitted with water-makers in combat and non-combat areas.

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

USS Tamalpais (AO-96) 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. She served in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of operations late in the war.

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

USS Enoree (AO-69) was a Chiwawa-class oiler constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the Enoree River in South Carolina.

USS <i>Auriga</i> World War II U. S. Navy cargo ship

USS Auriga (AK-98) was an Auriga-class cargo ship, the only ship in her class, commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the constellation Auriga. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS <i>Alkes</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Alkes (AK-110) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II, named after Alkes, a star in the Crater constellation. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS Alderamin (AK-116) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after Alderamin, the alpha star in constellation Cepheus. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS <i>Azimech</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Azimech (AK-124) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II, named after the Azimech, the other name of Spica, the brightest star in constellation Virgo. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS <i>Allegan</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Allegan (AK-225) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

USS <i>Adria</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Adria (AF-30) was an Adria-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1954. She was scrapped in 1977.

References