USNS Passumpsic (T-AO-107)

USNS "Passumpsic" (T-AO-107), was an oiler that served as a United States Naval Ship in the Military Sealift Command from 1975 to 1991. She had previously served as a commissioned ship in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1973 as USS "Passumpsic" (AO-107).

Construction and Acquisition

USS "Passumpsic" (AO-107) was laid down on 8 March 1945 as Maritime Commission Hull 2703 by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Chester, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 31 October 1945, and commissioned into the U.S. Navy on 1 April 1946 as USS "Passumpsic" (AO-107).

On 24 July 1973, "Passumpsic" was decommissioned. She transferred to the Military Sealift Command on the same day, becoming United States Naval Ship USNS "Passumpsic" (T-AO-107). Under this new designation, she continued in service in support of the U.S. Navy with a civilian crew.

Operational History

"Passumpsic" began active service with the Military Sealift Command in 1975. At the end of her career, she supported ships operating in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991.

Final Disposition

"Passumpsic" was in Subic Bay at Luzon in the Philippine Islands when Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, suffering extensive damage to her Underway Replenishment (UNREP) gear caused by a mixture of volcanic ash and rain water from a passing typhoon.

"Passumpsic" was stricken from the Navy List in December 1991; sources differ on whether the date was 17 December 1991 or 18 December 1991 [The discrepancy likely arises because she was in the Philippines when stricken, leading some sources to cite the date in the Philippines at the time of stiking and others to cite the date on the other side of the International Date Line in the United States.] She was sold to a Singaporean firm for scrapping on 19 December 1991. She was resold to an Indian firm on 1 July 1992 for scrapping in India.

Battle Honors

Personnel who served aboad USNS "Passumpsic" during Operation Desert Storm are authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon.

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