- USS Allagash (AO-97)
USS Allagash (AO-97) was an "Cimmeron"-class
fleet oiler constructed for theU.S. Navy for use inWorld War II . She had the dangerous task of supplying fuel and ammunition to ships in ship in, and near, combat area."Allagash" (AO-97) was laid down on
26 October 1944 atSparrows Point, Maryland , by theBethlehem Steel Co. under aMaritime Commission contract (MC hull 2559); launched on14 April 1945 ; sponsored by Mrs. Reuben D. Vining; acquired by the Navy on a loan-charter basis on21 August 1945 ; and commissioned that same day, Lt. Comdr. Howard C. Plummer,USNR , in command.World War II North Atlantic operations
The oiler departed Baltimore on
27 August for shakedown training inChesapeake Bay . She completed this cruise -- interrupted by an availability at theNorfolk Navy Yard between 4 and15 September -- late in that month and put to sea fromNorfolk, Virginia , on28 September , bound for theWest Indies . Operating fromGuantanamo Bay, Cuba , the ship spent the next 10 weeks carrying fuel oil between ports on theGulf Coast of the United States and bases in the West Indies. She also conducted underway refueling exercises before returning to Norfolk on10 December and remaining there for the rest of the year.Post-war Atlantic operations
At the beginning of
1946 , the ship was assigned to theNaval Transportation Service and began regular voyages carrying oil from gulf coast and West Indian oil ports to cities along the east coast. By August1947 , she expanded her itinerary to includePersian Gulf oil ports, making two round-trip voyages between the United States and the island ofBahrain during the period August1947 to April1948 . During the summer of1948 , "Allagash" began deployments with theU.S. 6th Fleet in theMediterranean Sea . Returning to the east coast of the United States in September1948 , she resumed runs between the Atlantic seaboard and oil ports in the West Indies and along the coast of theGulf of Mexico .Participation in 1952 NATO exercises
"Allagash" did not deploy to the Mediterranean again until
1951 when she operated with the 6th Fleet between June and September. Her next overseas deployment came in the summer of1952 when she sailed to northernEurope an ports during a training cruise formidshipmen . That fall, the oiler participated in theNATO exercise "Operation Mainbrace ." In the spring of1953 , the ship was once more deployed to the Mediterranean. Operations along the eastern seaboard occupied her time during the latter part of1953 and the first five months of1954 . Early in June1954 , "Allagash" sailed forEurope again on the first of two midshipmen training cruises conducted that summer. Repairs and western Atlantic missions took up the remainder of that year.1955 West Indies exercises
In mid-January
1955 , she completed a three-month overhaul and embarked upon three weeks of refresher training in the West Indies. During the latter part of February and the first week in March, the oiler took part in the annual "Springboard" exercise in the West Indies. She embarked upon another cruise to the Mediterranean early in May and returned to the United States at the beginning of October. Emergency repairs kept her out of operation in November and December. In the 10 years between the beginning of1956 and the beginning of1966 , "Allagash" continued to conduct operations along the lines established during her first decade of service. She made six deployments to the 6th Fleet in theMediterranean Sea , participated inNATO exercises, and made midshipmen cruises. When not deployed overseas, the oiler conducted east coast and West Indian missions, including the annual "Springboard" fleet exercise as well as type training, refresher training, and independent ship exercises.Supporting the fleet during the Cuban crisis
During November and December of
1962 , she earned theArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal for providing logistics support to the warships enforcing PresidentJohn F. Kennedy 's "quarantine" ofCuba to compel theSoviet Union to remove offensive missiles from that island.1966 South Atlantic tour
The year
1966 , the first of her last five of active service, began as had many of the previous 20. She had returned from a Mediterranean deployment late in1965 . February1966 brought the usual "Springboard" exercises in the West Indies followed by several weeks of operations out ofNewport, Rhode Island . On21 June , "Allagash" departed Newport on a voyage that added a new area of the world to her itinerary, the South Atlantic. During that cruise, she visitedPort Elizabeth inSouth Africa andRio de Janeiro inBrazil , before returning to Newport on18 August . After a period of post-deployment standdown and local operations, the oiler began regular overhaul at Boston on17 November .1968 Springboard operations
She completed repairs on
30 April 1967 and resumed operations out ofNewport, Rhode Island . On10 August , the ship was again deployed to the Mediterranean. "Allagash" returned to Newport on4 February 1968 and, after standdown, participated in the annual "Springboard" exercises and conducted local operations from her base at Newport. Between22 April and14 June , she took part in exercises in the northern Atlantic during which she also visited northern European ports. She returned to theRhode Island coast on14 June visitingMelville, Rhode Island , and Newport until19 July . During the remainder of the year, "Allagash" completed missions off the coasts ofFlorida andNew England . On6 January 1969 , the oiler departed Newport on her final assignment with theU.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean and returned to Newport on27 July . She spent her final year of service operating off the east coast of the United States.Inactivation and decommissioning
"Allagash" was placed in commission, in reserve, at
Boston, Massachusetts , on2 September 1970 to prepare for inactivation. On21 December 1970 , she was decommissioned. Though she remained Navy property, "Allagash" was turned over to the custody of theMaritime Administration on13 November 1971 at itsJames River, Virginia , facility. Her name was struck from theNavy list on1 June 1973 , and she was sold to the Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. on22 March 1976 for scrapping.Military awards and honors
"Allagash" was authorized the following medals for World War II:
* World War II Victory Medal
* National Defense Service Medal
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba)References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19097.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AO-97 Allagash]
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