USS Anacostia (AO-94)

Last updated

USNS Anacostia (T-AO-94) operating during the 1950s.jpg
Anacostia in the 1950s
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Anacostia
Namesake Anacostia River
Builder Marinship, Sausalito, California
Laid down16 July 1944
Launched24 September 1944
Commissioned25 February 1945
Decommissioned16 April 1946
Stricken8 May 1946
Acquired28 February 1948
In service18 July 1950, as USNS Anacostia (T-AO-94)
Out of serviceDecember 1957
Stricken17 December 1957
Honors and
awards		1 battle star (World War II)
FateTransferred to MARAD, 1957. Sold in 1967.
History
Name
  • Penn Ranger (1967–73)
  • Omnium Ranger (1973–78)
Owner
  • Penn Shipping Co Inc (1967–73)
  • Omnium Transportation Co (1973–78)
Operator
  • Penn Shipping Co Inc (1967–73)
  • Omnium Transportation Co (1973–78)
Port of registry
FateScrapped in 1978
General characteristics
Type Escambia-class replenishment oiler
Displacement
  • 5,782 long tons (5,875 t) light
  • 21,880 long tons (22,231 t) full
  • 14,177  GRT (1967–78)
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)
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity140,000 barrels (22,000 m3)
Complement267
Armament

USS Anacostia (AO-94) 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 Theater of operations late in the war, and returned home with one battle star.

Contents

The ship was laid down under a United States Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1829) on 16 July 1944 at Sausalito, California, by the Marinship Corp., as Mission Alamo. Renamed Anacostia (AO-94) on 24 July 1944, she was launched on 24 September 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Henry F. Bruns, the wife of Rear Admiral Bruns, and acquired by the Navy and placed in commission on 25 February 1945.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

After a final fitting out period, the oiler left San Francisco Bay on 23 March 1945 and proceeded to San Diego, California, where she underwent three weeks of intensive shakedown training. Anacostia departed the U.S. West Coast on 27 April and set a course for Hawaii. She reached Pearl Harbor on 3 May and reported for duty to Service Squadron 8, Service Force, Pacific Fleet. Two days later, the vessel left Hawaiian waters and sailed to the Caroline Islands.

Upon her arrival at Ulithi on 16 May, Anacostia joined Task Group (TG) 50.8 and proceeded with that group to Okinawa. [1] Early in June, the oiler arrived in a designated fueling area off Okinawa and replenished the bunkers of various ships. After completing this task, she sailed to Saipan to take on a cargo of gasoline to be distributed among forces there at Okinawa. During August and September, Anacostia made two more round-trips between Ulithi and Okinawa, taking on fuel at the former port and discharging it at the latter.

End-of-war operations

At the time of the Japanese capitulation on 15 August, Anacostia was in port in Ulithi. She moved on to Okinawa six days later and remained there through 25 October. The oiler then sailed to the Japanese home islands and touched at Kanoya on the 30th. She also visited the Japanese port of Kagoshima, Kyūshū. At each point, she acted as station tanker at United States Army air bases.

Anacostia got underway for the Philippines early in December and arrived at Manila shortly thereafter. She operated in Philippine waters for approximately two months before commencing another trip to Okinawa on 2 February 1946. From that island, she sailed for Pearl Harbor and reached Hawaiian waters on 7 March. The next day, she weighed anchor and shaped a course for the Gulf Coast via the Panama Canal. She transited the canal late in March and arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana, on 29 March.

Anacostia moved to Mobile, Alabama, on the 30th and began inactivation preparations there. She was decommissioned at Mobile on 16 April 1946 and was transferred by the United States Maritime Commission that same day. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 8 May 1946.

Assigned to Naval Transport Service

The vessel was reacquired on 28 February 1948 by the United States Naval Transport Service. During the next two years, Anacostia operated along the east coast of the United States; made numerous voyages through the Suez Canal to Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain to take on petroleum; visited ports in England and northern Germany; carried out several trips to Aruba to load up with petroleum; and paid calls to Japanese ports of Yokohama, Yokosuka, and Sasebo.

Assigned to MSTS

She was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) on 18 July 1950 and reported to Tankers Co. Inc., for operation under an MSTS contract, was redesignated USNS Anacostia (T-AO-94), and was run as a non-commissioned vessel manned by a civil service crew.

During the next seven years, Anacostia continued her service as an oiler. She made frequent trips to ports along the Texas gulf coast as well as to the Persian Gulf ports of Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain to take on petroleum. Her cargoes were then delivered to facilities at ports in Japan, England, the Netherlands, and Germany. The oiler remained active until December 1957, when she reported to Norfolk, Virginia. She was then turned over to the Maritime Administration and laid up with the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River. Her name was struck from the Navy List on 17 December 1957.

Merchant service

Anacostia was sold to Penn Shipping Co Inc, Wilmington, Delaware in 1967 and converted to a 14,177  GRT bulk carrier with the bow section from Nautilus being fitted; her own bow section was scrapped. She was renamed Penn Ranger. She was sold to Omnium Transportation Co, Panama. in 1973 and was renamed Omnium Ranger. She was scrapped at Castelló de la Plana, Spain in 1978. [2] [3] [4]

Awards

Anacostia earned one battle star for her World War II service

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Guadalupe</i> (AO-32) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Guadalupe (AO-32), a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler that served in the United States Navy, it was named for the Guadalupe River in Texas.

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

USS Cossatot (AO-77) was a United States Navy World War II Type T2-SE-A1 tanker which served as a fleet oiler. Launched as SS Fort Necessity on 28 February 1943 by the Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. W. Taylor; acquired by the Navy on 17 March 1943; and commissioned on 20 April 1943. It was named for a river in Arkansas.

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

USS Kankakee (AO-39) was a Kennebec-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy. The ship was built as SS Colina by Bethlehem Steel Co., Sparrows Point, Maryland, launched on 24 January 1942, sponsored by Mrs. D. A. Little, acquired for the Navy on 31 March through the Maritime Commission from her owner, Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, New York City, and commissioned as Kankakee at Norfolk, Virginia, on 4 May.

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

USS Tappahannock (AO-43) was a Kennebec-class oiler in the United States Navy that served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. She was sold for scrap in 1987.

USS Cache (AO-67) was a Type T2-SE-A1 Suamico-class fleet oiler 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>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>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>Manatee</i> (AO-58) Oiler of the United States Navy

The USS Manatee (AO-58)—the second vessel of the United States Navy to bear the name—was a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler named for a river in Florida. Cimarron-class oilers were named after American rivers in the Southern United States.

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

USS Soubarissen (AO-93) was an Escambia-class fleet oiler converted to a water tanker, named for a chief of the "Neutral" Indian Nations which, although a part of the Iroquois confederation, were called "neutral" by the French because they took no part in the wars of the Iroquois and Hurons. The area he governed included the oil fields of northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York. The knowledge of the oil seepages there was well known among the Indians, and it was declared neutral ground so all Indians could obtain oil for medicinal and domestic purposes without danger or interference. In 1627, Joseph de La Roche Daillon heard of the oil springs and made an expedition to visit them. He was kindly received by Chief Soubarissen, shown the oil seepages, and duly reported his observations to his superiors. These observations contributed largely to the interest in the petroleum resources of the Pennsylvania region.

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

USS Marias (AO-57) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For performing this dangerous task, she was awarded eight battle stars during World War II, and one campaign star during the Vietnam War for her bravery in combat areas.

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

USS Tolovana (AO-64) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For performing this dangerous task in combat areas, she was awarded one battle star during World War II, two during the Korean War, and thirteen campaign stars and the Navy Unit Commendation during the Vietnam War.

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

USS Chipola (AO-63) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Theater of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For performing this dangerous task in combat areas, she was awarded three battle stars during World War II and thirteen campaign stars during the Vietnam War.

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>Severn</i> (AO-61) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Severn (AO-61) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler. She was constructed for the U.S. Navy during World War II and her assignment was to provide liquids, such as fuel or water, to ships in the forward battle areas. She survived this dangerous task and returned home post-war with two battle stars to her credit.

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 Ashtabula River in northeast Ohio.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index". navsource.org. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  2. ↑ "Mission Alamo / Anacostia". Auke Visser. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Oilers (AO)". Shipbuildinghistory. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "T2 TANKERS – A". Mariners. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.