USS Elokomin (AO-55)

USS Elokomin (AO-55) was a "Cimarron"-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships.

"Elokomin" was launched 19 October 1943 by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland, under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 721); sponsored by Mrs. C. M. Marcey; transferred to the Navy 30 January 1943; and commissioned 30 November 1943, Commander J. A. Ivaldi, USNR, in command.

World War II Atlantic Ocean operations

From January to August 1944 "Elokomin" was almost constantly at sea transporting fuel oil, diesel oil, and gasoline from Gulf ports to Norfolk, Virginia, New York, Argentia, Newfoundland, and Bermuda. On 2 September she sailed with a convoy for Oran, Algeria, refueling the convoy escorts during the passage and discharging fuel oil to the dock at Oran upon arrival. She reached Bermuda 14 October, and after discharging the remainder of her cargo, returned to Norfolk 4 days later. Two similar voyages were made to Casablanca after which she served as station tanker at Bermuda in March and April 1945. "Elokomin" returned to coastwise and Caribbean duty until the end of the war. She continued on active service and from her base at Norfolk, operated mainly along the east coast and on fleet exercises. She alternated this duty with U.S. 6th Fleet tours in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises in European waters through 1962.

Decommissioning

She was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register on unknown dates. She was transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at another unknown date. Her final disposition was that she was scrapped in 1970.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* World War II
* Petroleum tanker

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19055.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AO-55 Elokomin]