USS Cossatot (AO-77)

USS "Cossatot" (AO-77) was a United States Navy World War II T2 tanker which served as a fleet oiler launched as SS "Fort Necessity" February 28, 1943 by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pa., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. W. Taylor; acquired by the Navy March 17, 1943; and commissioned April 20, 1943 Commander P. G. Beck, USNR, in command. It was named for a river in Arkansas.

World War II

Sailing from Norfolk to Baytown, Texas, to load kerosene, gasoline, and fuel oil in July 1943, "Cossatot" sailed from Norfolk August 6 to fuel convoy escorts during their passage to Casablanca, returning to Norfolk 14 September. She made seven such voyages from Norfolk to the North African ports of Casablanca, Oran, and Bizerte between October 4, 1943 and November 30, 1944.

"Cossatot" put to sea from Norfolk again December 28, 1944 bound for the Pacific. She loaded diesel oil, fuel oil, and gasoline at Aruba, Netherlands West Indies, and arrived at Pearl Harbor January 30, 1946. She operated from Saipan from February 12 fueling ships of the 6th Fleet until March 3, when she began operations from Ulithi. "Cossatot" sortied as a part of TG 60.8, the logistics group for the 6th Fleet, for operations off Iwo Jima from March 13 to April 12. On April 16 she sailed with her group to conduct fueling operations off newly assaulted Okinawa. On April 28 she splashed a suicide plane as it dove toward her, and remained on this duty unscathed until May 4 when she arrived at Ulithi to reload. From May 26 until the end of the War, "Cossatot" operated out of Ulithi fueling various units of fast carrier TF 38, engaged in the final strikes against the Japanese homeland.

"Cossatot" left Ulithi September 3 for Okinawa and Sasebo, arriving September 21 to fuel ships of the occupation force. On 12 November she sailed from Yokosuka for San Francisco, arriving November 26.

"Cossatot" received two Battle Stars for World War II service.

Post war

"Cossatot" was placed out of commission in reserve March 7, 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission October 28, 1946. Reacquired in February 1948, she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service October 1, 1949 where she has served in a noncommissioned status under the Maritime Administration.

While underway in the Pacific Ocean on April 16, 1963 "Cossatot" reported seeing an unidentified flying object on a straight and fast course in the skies. It was described as glowing, and star-like, and on a trajectory at about 20 degrees and an altitude around 20,000 feet. No investigation was put forward.

According to Greenpeace records, on June 15, 1968 "Cossatot" was damaged after a collision with the merchant vessel "Copper State", in fog, off the coast of Santa Cruz, California. "Cossatot" was carrying 130,000 barrels of jet fuel and lost 20 feet of her bow section in this collision. "Cossatot" was stricken on September 18, 1974 and sold September 2, 1975. No further information is available after this date.

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