USS Maquoketa

Last updated
USS Maquoketa (AOG-51) in 1945 (BS 79021).jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Maquoketa
Namesake Maquoketa River in Iowa
Orderedas T1-MT-M1 tanker hull
Laid down14 January 1944
Launched12 August 1944
Commissioned27 February 1945
Decommissioned21 February 1947
In service
  • as USNS Maquoketa (T-AOG-51)
  • 1 March 1952
Out of service9 October 1957
Stricken12 March 1958
FateDisposed of by scrapping 2 December 1975
General characteristics
Class and type Patapsco-class gasoline tanker
Tonnage2,120 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement
  • 1,846 long tons (1,876 t) light
  • 4,130 long tons (4,196 t) full load
Length310 ft 9 in (94.72 m)
Beam48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Draft15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Propulsion4 × General Electric diesel engines, electric drive, twin shafts, 3,300 hp (2,461 kW)
Speed14 knots (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement131
Armament

USS Maquoketa (AOG-51) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1947 and with the Military Sea Transportation Service from 1952 to 1957. She was sold for scrap in 1975.

Contents

History

Maquoketa was laid down 14 January 1944 by Cargill, Inc., Savage, Minnesota; launched 12 August 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Henry E. Benson; and commissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana, 27 February 1945.

World War II

Following shakedown exercises along the U.S. Gulf Coast, Maquoketa took on aviation gas, diesel oil and lube oil at Houston, Texas, and departed for the Pacific Ocean, 28 March 1945. She arrived in the Marshall Islands 23 May and immediately began discharging her cargo into the waiting ships.

For the next three months the tanker plied regularly between Majuro, Kwajalein, and Tarawa. At Majuro when hostilities ceased, Maquoketa made one more voyage to Kwajalein and then sailed to Ulithi, arriving 29 August. From the Carolines she steamed on to Okinawa, remaining there for 1½ months before continuing to Japan. She moored at Nagasaki 23 October and commenced supplying ships assigned to the occupied areas. During the remainder of her western Pacific deployment she called at most of the ports in the Japanese home islands and in the American zone of Korea in addition to making regularly scheduled visits to Jinsen, Korea, Sasebo, Yokohama, and Nagoya.

Post-war operations

After operating for 14 months in support of the occupation forces, Maquoketa steamed from Yokosuka 11 November 1946 for the United States, anchoring in San Francisco Bay 4 December. She decommissioned at Mare Island, California, 21 February 1947 and was transferred to the Maritime Commission 18 June.

Military Sea Transportation Service

The next year, because of her speed and military characteristics, she was reacquired by the Navy and placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet 23 August 1948. Reactivated, she was assigned to Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) 1 March 1952, and operated under contract with a civilian crew until 18 May 1954, when she was again placed in reserve. From that date until spring 1956 she was berthed in Florida with the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

A second tour of civilian-operated service with MSTS began on 24 April 1956 and continued until 16 October 1956, when she was delivered to the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, California. She remained in custodial status there until activated a third time in 1957. Maquoketa then underwent another tour with MSTS in the Pacific, from 30 April through 9 October 1957. On the latter date, she once more deactivated and was placed in the custody of the Maritime Administration.

Final decommissioning and fate

On 12 March 1958, she was formally transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. Maquoketa was sold on 2 December 1975 to the National Metal & Steel Corp of Terminal Island, Ca for $132,132.29. Maquoketa was removed from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet on 16 December 1975 [1] and was scrapped shortly afterwards.

Military awards and honors

Her crew was eligible for the following medals:

Related Research Articles

USNS <i>Mission San Gabriel</i> American tanker

SS Mission San Gabriel was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission San Gabriel (AO-124). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San Gabriel (T-AO-124). She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USNS <i>Mission Purisima</i>

SS Mission Purisima was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission Purisima (AO-118). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission Purisima (T-AO-118). She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Mission La Purísima Concepción near Lompoc, California.

SS Mission Loreto was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission Loreto (AO-116). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission Loreto (T-AO-116). She was a Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó, located in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, considered the "Head and Mother of all the California Missions."

USNS <i>Mission San Diego</i>

SS Mission San Diego was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission San Diego (AO-121). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121). She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for the Mission San Diego de Alcalá.

USNS <i>Mission Santa Ana</i>

USNS Mission Santa Ana (T-AO-137) was a Mission Buenaventura-class oiler that served in the United States Navy. The ship was originally intended as USS Concho (AO-102) for the U.S. Navy but her acquisition was canceled. The ship, a Type T2-SE-A3 tanker, was completed as SS Mission Santa Ana and delivered after the end of World War II. The tanker was acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1948 as USS Mission Santa Ana (AO-137), but was transferred to the Military Sea Transport Service upon its creation in 1949. The ship was named for the Santa Ana Estancia, she was the only U.S. Naval Vessel to bear the name.

SS Mission San Luis Rey was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission San Luis Rey (AO-128). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San Luis Rey (T-AO-128). She was a Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, located in Oceanside, California.

USNS <i>Mission San Rafael</i>

SS Mission San Rafael was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission San Rafael (AO-130). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San Rafael (T-AO-130). She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Mission San Rafael Arcángel, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

SS Mission Santa Clara was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission Santa Clara (AO-132). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132). She was a Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Mission Santa Clara de Asís in Santa Clara, California.

USS <i>Monongahela</i> (AO-42) Kennebec-class oiler of the United States Navy

The second USS Monongahela (AO-42) was a Kennebec-class oiler in the United States Navy which saw service during World War II and the Korean War. She was the second U.S. Navy ship named for the Monongahela River in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

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>Wabash</i> (AOG-4) Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Wabash (AOG-4) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

USS <i>Pinnebog</i> United States Navy Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Pinnebog (AOG–58) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

USS <i>Wacissa</i> (AOG-59) Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Wacissa (AOG-59) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker delivered to the United States Navy in 1946. She directly put in reserve and reactivated for service with the Military Sea Transportation Service between 1952 and 1956. In 1957, she was transferred to the United States Air Force. Shortly thereafter she was again transferred to Canada. She was finally scrapped in 1964.

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

USS Chikaskia (AO-54) 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 her very dangerous work under combat conditions, she was awarded six battle stars for World War II and one for the Korean War.

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>Agawam</i> (AOG-6) Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Agawam (AOG-6) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

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

USS Nemasket (AOG-10) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker in service with the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1959. She was scrapped in 2006.

USS <i>Ontonagon</i>

USS Ontonagon (AOG-36) was a Mettawee-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

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

USS Chestatee (AOG-49) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 and with the Military Sea Transportation Service from 1952 and 1956. From 1957 to 1962, she was lent to the United States Air Force. She was sold for scrap in 1975.

USS <i>Livingston</i> (AP-163) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Livingston (AP-163/AK-222) was a Crater-class cargo ship built for the US Navy during World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .

  1. "USNS Maquoketa (T-AOG-51)". navsource.org. Retrieved 2 November 2022.