USS Ponaganset (AO-86)

The USS "Ponaganset" (AO-86, and later, AOG-86) was an "Suamico"-class fleet oiler, of the T2-SE-A2 tanker hull type, serving in the United States Navy during the era of the Second World War. Laid down 27 April 1942, she was named for the Ponaganset River located in Foster and Glocester, Rhode Island.

"Ponaganset" was launched 10 July 1943 after being built at Marinship, Sausalito, California, under Maritime Commission contract MC 1265. Sponsored by Mrs. J.W. Fowler, the ship was commissioned by the US Navy on 15 May 1944, and reported to the US Pacific Fleet, 25 June 1944.

After shakedown off the west coast, "Ponaganset" arrived Pearl Harbor, 17 July, and made a water run to Eniwetok and back before departing again on transporting potable water duties for Guadalcanal, Manus, Kossol, Ulithi, Peleliu, and Saipan, reaching Leyte on 22 March 1945. In April she carried water to the task force off Okinawa, returning there during each of the next three months while moving around the western Pacific touching at Ulithi, Guam, and Leyte where she was to be found at World War II's end. She then steamed to Ulithi, the Marianas, and Okinawa, before reaching Wakayama, Japan 26 September. She operated at various Japanese ports until steaming for San Francisco, arriving 5 January 1946. She then transited the Panama Canal, and arrived 18 February 1946 at her new home yard of New York.

Water. The problem of getting fresh water to the smaller ships which did not have distilling apparatus became increasingly acute as the fleet moved westward. Large combatant ships and auxiliaries were ordered to issue water to small craft needing it, but demands could not be met solely in this way. The newly commissioned fleet oilers "Ocklawaha" and "Ponaganset" were used to carry potable water to ships and bases in the forward area.

Water was available at a number of points in the South Pacific for the Third Fleet, and in the Southwest Pacific for the Morotai Interlude forces. It was likewise available on certain harbor craft in the Marshalls. At Manus, where 2,000,000 gallons a day, filtered and chlorinated, were available, it could be obtained after 1 September for both Third Fleet and Southwest Pacific forces. Besides the shore facilities at Manus, "YO-186", with 55,000 barrels, and "YW-90", with 280,000 gallons, were sent to Captain Ogden from Eniwetok late in August. They had been filled from the "Ponaganset" and from surplus in ships returning to Pearl.

In the South Pacific area where most of the amphibious forces were serviced, the naval base at Tulagi estimated that between 15 August and 1 September 20,917,000 gallons of water was supplied to LST's, LCI's, and small craft. No figures are available for Guadalcanal, but that base supplied water in tremendous quantities to the ships and troops which staged in that area.

The "Ponaganset", with 90,000 barrels of water, reached Eniwetok 2 August, discharged cargo, and returned to Pearl to reload. With a fresh 90,000 barrels aboard, she was ordered to Guadalcanal to take part in the logistic preparations of the amphibious forces. From 27 August to 4 September she discharged fresh water to various harbor and patrol craft. [cite book | url = http://ibiblio.net/hyperwar/USN/BBBO/ | title = Beans, bullets, and black oil; the story of fleet logistics afloat in the Pacific during World War II | first = Worrall Reed | last = Carter | authorlink = Worrall Reed Carter | location = Washington, D.C. | publisher = Department of the Navy | year = 1953 | isbn = | oclc = 781884 | chapter = Chapter XX; The Philippines Campaign; Forces and Vessels--Logistic Support of the Seventh Fleet--Battle of Leyte Gulf | chapterurl = http://ibiblio.net/hyperwar/USN/BBBO/BBBO-20.html | page = p. 243 | accessdate = 2007-11-30 ]

"Ponaganset" earned two battle stars for World War II service.

She decommissioned 26 April 1946 and was struck from the Navy List 23 April 1947. She was returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal at Norfolk 15 May 1947.

In 1947 "Ponaganset" fractured into two sections while tied at dockside in Boston:

In the early part of 1948 the vessel was reacquired by the Navy "as is where is" 2 March 1948. On 2 June 1948 title was transferred back to the Maritime Commission at the Boston Naval Shipyard 30 June 1948. She was sold for scrap to Northern Metal Company 7 January 1949.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p9/ponaganset.htm
* [http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/AO/AO-86_Ponaganset.html HyperWar's USS "Ponaganset" (AO-86) page]
* [http://www.disastercity.info/titanic/usnrl.htm US Naval Research Laboratory report 5920 on USS "Ponaganset" sinking at disastercity.info]