USNS Mission Santa Ynez

SS Mission Santa Ynez was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission Santa Ynez (AO-134). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission Santa Ynez (T-AO-134). A Mission Buenaventura-class oiler, she was named for Mission Santa Inés located in Solvang, California.

USNS Mission Santa Ynez
History
United States
NameMission Santa Ynez
BuilderMarinship Corporation, Sausalito, California
Laid down9 September 1943
Launched19 December 1943
Commissioned13 March 1944
Decommissionedn/a
IdentificationIMO number: 8450627
FateSold for scrap, April 2010
NotesLast T-2 tanker in the world when scrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeMission Buenaventura-class oiler
Displacement
  • 5,532 long tons (5,621 t) light
  • 21,880 long tons (22,231 t) full
Length524 ft (160 m)
Beam68 ft (21 m)
Draft30 ft (9.1 m)
PropulsionTurbo-electric, single screw, 6,000 hp (4.47 MW)
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Complement52
ArmamentNone
External media
Images
image icon USNS Mission Santa Ynez Set from Flickr, uploaded by Robert Hart
Video
video icon USNS Mission Santa Ynez in Drydock (Flash format) from YouTube, uploaded by Delfinmar

The Mission Santa Ynez, the last T-2 tanker in existence, was stored at Suisun Bay as part of the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet from 1975 until April 2010 when a lawsuit forced the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to remove her.[1] The tanker was transported to a ship recycling facility in Brownsville, Texas via the Panama Canal in May 2010 for scrapping by Esco Marine.[2]

Career

Mission Santa Ynez was laid down 9 September 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by Marinship Corporation, Sausalito, California; launched 19 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Ralph K. Davies; and delivered 13 March 1944. Chartered to Pacific Tankers, Inc., for operations, she spent the remainder of the War carrying fuel to our forces overseas. She remained in this capacity until 28 March 1946 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Maritime reserve Fleet at James River, Virginia.

Acquired by the Navy 22 October 1947 she was placed in service with the Naval Transportation Service as Mission Santa Ynez (AO-134). Taken over by the newly created Military Sea Transportation Service 1 October 1949 she was redesignated USNS Mission Santa Ynez (T-AO-134). Chartered to Mathiasens Tanker Industries, Inc., for operations, she entered the Maritime Administration's Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet on 6 March 1975. She was the last T-2 tanker extant. Towed from the Maritime reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California on March 31, 2010, headed for dismantling in Texas via the Panama Canal.

During her active duty, she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal (twice), the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactively).

References
  1. "TheMaritimeBlog.com is available at DomainMarket.com". TheMaritimeBlog.com is available at DomainMarket.com. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  2. "News Release: MARAD 01-10 - Suisun Bay Clean-Up Continues with Recycling of Three More Ships". www.marad.dot.gov. Archived from the original on 2010-02-20.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Property Management and Archive Record System Website

  • "PMARS Ship Record Detail - MISSION SANTA YNEZ". U.S. Maritime Administration's Property Management and Archive Record System Website. (This link includes two large and recent photographs of her while moored at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet). Retrieved August 21, 2007.
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