USS Pasig (AW-3)

The 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 (the second U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name) which flows through Manila on the Philippine Island of Luzon.

Originally laid down as SS "Mission San Xavier", a Maritime Commission T2-SE-A2 tanker (MC hull 1826) by the Marinship Corporation of Sausalito, California on 18 May 1944; renamed USS "Pasig" (AO–91) on 3 July 1944; launched 15 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. John A. McCone; redesignated USS "Pasig" (AW–3) on 28 August 1944; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 21 October 1944; and commissioned 11 December 1944 with Lieutenant Commander Clarke M. Williams in command. Following shakedown off California, "Pasig" sailed on 3 March 1945 to begin her mission of distilling and supplying fresh water to units of the Allied navies in the western Pacific. She arrived at Ulithi 23 March and immediately commenced supplying water to landing craft, preparing for the Okinawa campaign, merchant vessels, and various harbor craft. With no natural water supply at Ulithi, "Pasig" refilled periodically from tankers from the Philippines, or made trips to the closest natural source. On 7 May she departed for a water run to Manus, whence, redirected, she steamed northeast to Eniwetok. There she joined ServDiv 102 and continued to supply Pacific Fleet units, and bases ashore, with fresh water until ordered back to the United States for inactivation in late 1946. Decommissioned in February 1947, she was berthed at San Diego, California until war again broke out in the Far East. Recommissioned 15 March 1951 "Pasig" reported to MSTSWestPac at Yokosuka in April. For 37 continuous months her 120,000 gallon/day distilling plant provided fresh water, for human and machine consumption, to units of the United Nations forces operating in Korean and Japanese waters. In 1954 she was again designated for inactivation and, in May, she departed Yokosuka for the West Coast. Decommissioned for the last time 15 June 1955, she entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, where she remained until transferred to the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington in June 1960. On 1 July 1960 "Pasig’s" name was struck from the Navy Vessel Register. "Pasig" received 6 battle stars for her service during the Korean Conflict.

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* for other ships with the same name.