USS Wakulla (AOG-44)

USS "Wakulla" (AOG-44) was a "Mettawee"-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.

The second ship to be named "Wakulla", "AOG-44" was laid down on 31 October 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2070) at Bayonne, New Jersey, by the East Coast Shipyards, Inc.; launched on 17 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. J. I. McClain; accepted by the Navy on 15 January 1945; converted to naval use at the builder's yard; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 3 February 1945, Lt. Clifford G. Pickering in command.

World War II service

Following trials in Long Island Sound and shakedown out of Norfolk, Virginia, "Wakulla" got underway on 23 March 1945 for the Netherlands West Indies. She loaded a full cargo of diesel oil and high-octane gasoline at Aruba and shaped course westward.

Pacific Ocean operations

She passed through the Panama Canal from 5 April to 7 April, arrived at San Diego, California, on the 22d, and got underway for the Hawaiian Islands on the 30th. Assigned to Service Squadron (ServRon) 8 soon after her 11 May arrival at Pearl Harbor, "Wakulla" subsequently made one voyage to Canton Island in the Phoenix group and two to Johnston Island -- each time with full cargoes of high-octane gasoline. During one of her cruises to Johnston, she interrupted unloading operations to put to sea and tow "LST-765" into port after a damaged screw and an inoperable rudder had left the tank landing ship adrift. "Wakulla" served as yard oiler at Pearl Harbor through VJ-day.

Post-war activity

After ServRon 8 was disestablished in September, the gasoline tanker operated under the dual control of the Commandant, 14th Naval District, and Commander, Service Force, Pacific Fleet, into late 1945.

Decommissioning

She sailed for the U.S. West Coast in January 1946 and was decommissioned at San Francisco, California, on 13 June 1946. "Wakulla" was struck from the Navy list on 19 July 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission on 14 November 1946.

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/09/20/2044.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AOG-44 Wakulla]