USS Wabash (AOG-4)

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.

"Wabash" was laid down on 30 June 1942 at Seattle, Washington, by the Seattle-Tacorna Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 28 October 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Louis A. Puckett; and was commissioned at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, on 10 May 1943, Lt. James F. Ardagh, USNR, in command.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations

"Wabash" departed Seattle, Washington, on 26 May for Alaskan waters. After delivering a cargo of gasoline to Annette Bay and Yakutat, the gasoline tanker returned to Seattle on 5 June. She made four more voyages carrying fuel to Alaskan ports before 15 September, when she headed south for the last time to San Francisco, California. Proceeding to Hawaii soon thereafter, "Wabash" was assigned to Service Squadron (ServRon) 8 upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor on 19 October. From then through the first half of 1944, she made runs in the Central Pacific carrying high-test aviation gasoline and lubricants to Palmyra Island, Canton, and Midway Island. Departing Pearl Harbor on 9 July, "Wabash" steamed in convoy for the Marshall Islands. Transferred to ServRon 10 upon her arrival at Eniwetok on 18 July, "Wabash" pumped gasoline and lubricants to station tanker "YOG-185"; tended small craft; and carried Marine Corps equipment to Roi Island before moving on to the Marianas.

Supporting Iwo Jima operations

Arriving at Saipan on 20 August 1944, she operated in the Marianas until sailing for the Volcano Islands on 5 March 1945 to support the American conquest of Iwo Jima. There, "Wabash" furnished fuel and lubricants to amphibious ships of Task Force 53, including minecraft and tank landing ships. On 14 March, she returned via Saipan to the Western Carolines and arrived at Ulithi on the 27th.

Supporting Okinawa operations

"Wabash" soon got underway again to support her second major Pacific Ocean operation, the battle for Okinawa. Soon after her arrival off Hagushi beach on 9 April, she began tending miscellaneous small craft at Okinawa through the cessation of hostilities and the first months following Japan's surrender.

Post-World War II activities

On 28 November, she sailed for Hong Kong. From December 1945 to the summer of 1946, "Wabash" operated in the Far East supporting the Fleet in its occupation duties. She served as tender and fuel ship at Hong Kong; Hainan Island, French Indochina; Subic Bay, Philippines; and at Shanghai and Tsingtao, China.

Decommissioning

Decommissioned at Tsingtao on 29 July 1946, "Wabash" was transferred to the Army Transportation Corps on that day and was struck from the Navy list on 23 April 1947.

Redesignated T-AOG-4

Manned and officered by Japanese, the tanker operated for the U.S. Army out of Yokosuka, Japan, into 1950. With the onset of the Korean War, "Wabash" was reinstated on the Navy list on 1 June 1950; enrolled in the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS); and designated T-AOG-4.

Korean Conflict service

During the Korean conflict, the ship supported United Nations air operations with vital cargoes of jet fuel and gasoline through the year 1952. Manned by a mixed crew of Americans and Japanese, "Wabash" served MSTS through the Panmunjom armistice in the summer of 1953 and subsequently carried oil between Iwo Jima and South Korean and Japanese ports through the mid-1950's.

Deactivation

Inactivated on 10 September 1957, "Wabash" was struck from the Navy list for the second time on 8 May 1958, placed in permanent custody of the Maritime Administration, and assigned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California. She remained there into the 1970's.

Awards

"Wabash" received two battle stars for her World War II service and two for service during the Korean conflict. Her crew was eligible for the following medals:
* China Service Medal (extended)
* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
* National Defense Service Medal
* Korean Service Medal (2)
* United Nations Service Medal
* Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* World War II
* USS "Wabash" for other ships of this name.

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AOG/AOG-4_Wabash.html Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945 AOG-4 USS Wabash]
* [http://www.usmm.org/msts/transfer.html Ships transferred to Military Sea Transport Service from Naval ...] *
* [http://www.america-at-war.net/wwii1945.html America at War]
* [http://www.ussyms425.com/typhoon.htm Typhoon "Louise" The 9 October 1945 Storm at Okinawa.]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/BBBO/BBBO-A.html HyperWar: Beans, Bullet and Black Oil Appendix