USS Pamanset (AO-85)

USS Pamanset (AO-85) was a Escambia-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy for use during World War II. She had the dangerous but necessary task of providing fuel to vessels in combat and non-combat areas.

She was laid down, (date unknown), as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under a Maritime Commission contract at Marinship, Sausalito, California. She was launched (date unknown) and commissioned USS Pamanset (AO-85), 30 April 1944.

World War II operations

Following shakedown, "Pamanset" sailed for Pearl Harbor and duty with the Pacific Fleet during the final months of World War II. Departing Pearl Harbor 24 July 1944, she steamed to the Marshall Islands, then to the Admiralty Islands where she spent the next several months refueling units of the U.S. 3rd Fleet. She continued her support of the 3rd Fleet during the Western Caroline and Philippine Islands engagements in the fall of 1944 as well as during the Formosa and China coast attacks early in 1945. Refueling operations in very heavy seas in January 1945, resulted in injuries to several of her crew. "Pamanset" arrived off Iwo Jima 26 February and participated in that campaign until returning to Ulithi, 2 March, thence proceeding to San Pedro, California, for extensive repairs. She was underway again 4 June for the Western Pacific and serviced the 3rd Fleet in various fueling areas until the end of the war.

First decommissioning

After extensive operations in support of the occupation fleet in Japanese home waters, she departed Yokohama, Japan, 8 November for San Francisco, California, where she decommissioned 18 March 1946. She was struck from the Naval Register 28 March and transferred to the Maritime Commission 11 October.

Transferred to MSTS operations

Reacquired 10 February 1948, "Pamanset" was assigned to Military Sea Transportation Service 1 October 1949 and manned by a merchant crew. After necessary fitting out and trials, she added to her wartime record by rendering valuable service during the Korean conflict.

Decommissioning

She was struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleet 24 February 1956, reinstated 26 June for MSTS contract operations again, then struck again 26 September 1957. Subsequently converted to a container ship she was sold by the Maritime Administration to Hudson Waterway Corp. and served into 1970 as SS Seatrain Florida.

References

See also

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

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p1/pamanset.htm Pamanset (AO–85)]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19085.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AO-85 Pamanset]