USS Millicoma (AO-73)

USS "Millicoma" (AO-73) was a U.S. 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.

Constructed in Chester, Pennsylvania

"Millicoma" was laid down as "King’s Mountain" under United States Maritime Commission contract by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania, 4 August 1942; subsequently renamed USS "Conestoga"; launched as USS "Millicoma" 21 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. M. G. Hogan; acquired by the U.S. Navy 30 January 1943; converted for Navy use by the Maryland Drydock Company of Baltimore, Maryland, and commissioned at Baltimore, Maryland 5 March 1943, Lt. Comdr. George E. Ely in command.

Service in World War II

Supplying the fleet with oil

For more than two years "Millicoma" provided valuable at-sea logistics support as the might of American seapower moved westward across the Pacific Ocean to crush the warring Japanese Empire. Refueling and replenishment operations sent her throughout the Pacific to the islands of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia as well as to the home islands of Japan.

During her Pacific Ocean service she refueled scores of ships ranging in size from battleships and aircraft carriers to destroyers and auxiliaries. She transferred thousands of barrels of oil and thousands of gallons of gasoline to the fighting ships of the fleet and thus helped the Navy press to a successful conclusion a sea war of the aggressor’s own making.

Transiting to the Pacific

Departing Norfolk, Virginia, 20 April 1943, "Millicoma" steamed via the Dutch West Indies and the Panama Canal to carry a cargo of fuel oil and gasoline to the Fiji Islands. During the remainder of 1943 she continued to carry vital liquid cargoes to American bases in the South Pacific.

Operating out of San Pedro, California, she made several runs to the Society Islands, the New Hebrides, New Calidonia, and New Zealand. Thence, after completing a round trip to Hawaii and back, she departed San Pedro, California, 13 January 1944 to begin supporting the Navy’s series of brilliant island‑hopping campaigns.

"Millicoma" refueled ships off the Marshall Islands prior to and during the invasion; thence, arriving Majuro 4 February, she served as station oiler in the Marshalls until sailing for the New Hebrides 2 March. Between 31 March and 15 April she cruised north of the Solomon Islands and refueled ships of Task Force 58 following intensive air strikes in the western Caroline Islands. After returning to San Pedro, California, 9 May, she underwent overhaul and on 20 June sailed to resume fleet oiler duty in the Marshall Islands.

Supporting the fleet at Guam

Early in July she cruised for similar duty in the Marianas, and during the next month she supported fleet operations off Tinian, Guam, and Rota. She returned to Eniwetok 12 August, and between 26 and 31 August steamed to the Admiralties for duty with the At Sea Logistics Support Group (Task Group 30.8). Early in September she refueled ships of the fast carrier task force during sweeping, hard-hitting strikes from the Palaus to the southern Philippines.

"Millicoma" returned to the U.S. West Coast 19 October. Departing San Pedro, California, 1 December, she steamed via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok to Ulithi where she resumed duty with Task Group 30.8. She sortied 3 January 1945 and during the next three weeks cruised the replenishment areas in the western Pacific and refueled the fast carriers during far‑reaching operations against Japanese installations on Luzon, Formosa, China, Indochina, and the Ryukyus.

Supporting Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations

"Millicoma" served out of Ulithi during the remainder of World War II as she continued a busy pace of fleet replenishment operations which carried her to the heart of the Japanese Empire. In late February and early March she replenished ships during the conquest of Iwo Jima. Besides fuel, she provided ships with foodstuffs, medical supplies, ammunition, and mail.

Thence, beginning 13 March, she sailed on the first of four major fueling operations in support of the invasion and conquest of Okinawa. She carried out additional deployments 30 March, 22 April, and 30 May, and each of the four runs lasted about two weeks.

Damaged in a typhoon

While cruising with Task Group 30.8 on the fourth deployment, she battled typhoon seas 4-5 June. Sixty-foot waves and winds in excess of 100 knots destroyed her fueling booms and cracked her foremast. She returned to Ulithi 11 June for repairs, thence departed for Okinawa 28 June to begin shuttling fuel to the newest of the American bases in the western Pacific. She completed two round trips to the Ryukyus and returned to Ulithi where she received news of Japanese capitulation.

End-of-war operations

"Millicoma" steamed to Japanese waters 8 September and refueled minesweep and support ships off Sasebo, Kyūshū. She replenished more than 60 ships in less than 2 days. She arrived Sasebo the 29th to continue logistics support of minesweeping operations, and between 22 and 25 October she refueled ships in the Yellow Sea along the coast of Korea.

Post-War operations

"Millicoma" arrived San Francisco, California, 19 November, and decommissioned there 21 February 1946. Her name was struck from the Navy list 12 March, and she was transferred to the Maritime Commission in June. Reacquired by the Navy in February 1948 for use as a naval tanker, she was transferred to MSTS 1 October 1949. Her name was reinstated on the Navy list 28 April 1950.

Civilian Operation

Since 1949 the "Millicoma", has supported the worldwide shield of American seapower and the defense of the free world. Manned by a civilian crew, she has operated under MSTS on a contract charter basis to carry liquid cargoes along the coasts of the United States and to American bases overseas. Between June 1952 and June 1954, she bolstered the sea supply lines between Japan and South Korea. Since the Korean conflict she has continued wide‑ranging fueling runs under MSTS, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. Into late fiscal year 1969 she maintained her schedule of chartered runs out of east coast ports.

"Millicoma" was transferred to MARAD for disposal 2 February 1987, ultimate fate not known.

Awards

"Millicoma" received eight battle stars for World War II service.

References

ee also

* U.S. Navy
* Oiler (ship)
* Empire of Japan
* World War II

External links

* [http://www.t2tanker.org The T-2 Tanker Page]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq102-5.htm Typhoons and Hurricanes: Pacific Typhoon June 1945]
* [http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AO/AO-73_Millicoma.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945]
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/uss-millicoma USS Millicoma]