- USS Mettawee (AOG-17)
USS "Mettawee" (AOG-17) was a "Mettawee"-class
gasoline tanker acquired by theU.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations."Mettawee" was laid down as "Clearwater" (YOG-47) by Marine Maintenance Corp. (later named the East Coast Shipyard, Inc.),
Bayonne, New Jersey ,13 August 1942 ; launched28 November 1942 ; sponsored by Mrs. Charles B. Edison; renamed and reclassified "Mettawee" (AOG-17)25 March 1943 ; acquired by the Navy from theMaritime Commission 5 April 1943 ; converted byBethlehem Steel Co.,Hoboken, New Jersey ; and commissioned26 August 1943 , Lt. (jg.) Byron R. Everson,USNR , in command.World War II service
Following shakedown off
Norfolk, Virginia , from25 September , "Mettawee" sailed21 October forNew York City to join aconvoy for thePanama Canal Zone . She moored at Balboa until departing3 December for the southwestPacific Ocean , arrivingBora Bora ,Society Islands , the 24th, to load supplies. "Mettawee" continued on toNew Caledonia to debark her cargo after arrival atNoumea 11 January 1944 .She departed
5 February for theNew Hebrides , arrivingEspiritu Santo 3 days later. From14 February through April "Mettawee" served as station tanker offFunafuti Atoll ,Ellice Islands .South Pacific operations
On
1 May thegasoline tanker departedFunafuti for theSolomons , arrivingTulagi the 6th. She got underway two days later on the first of many round trips, transportingaviation gas toGuadalcanal and Bougainville,Solomons ; andFunafuti until the end of January 1945. "Mettawee" departed Tulagi30 January for thePhilippines , via Manus,Admiralties , arriving San Pedro Bay,Leyte ,17 February for supply operations in the Philippines andBorneo area through the fall of that year.Post-war decommissioning
"Mettawee" then got underway for the
U.S. West Coast , arrivingSan Francisco, California , to be decommissioned atMare Island Navy Yard 29 March 1946 . She was transferred10 September 1946 to theMaritime Commission for merchant service as "Clearwater". OnJanuary 7 ,1964 she was sold for scrap to National Metal & Steel Corporation. [ [http://www.pmars.imsg.com/detail.asp?Ship=3349 Maritime Administration Ship Record Detail: "Mettawee"] ]Military awards and honors
Her crew was eligible for the following medals:
*American Campaign Medal
*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
*World War II Victory Medal
*Philippine Liberation Medal References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/20/2017.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YOG-47 Clearwater / AOG-17 Mettawee]
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