USS Sakatonchee

USS Sakatonchee (AOG-19) 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.

History
United States
NameUSS Sakatonchee
NamesakeSakatonchee Creek in Mississippi, a tributary of the Tombigbee River
Orderedas T1-M-A2 tanker hull, MC hull 901
Laid down13 August 1942
Launched22 May 1943
Acquired15 January 1944
Commissioned17 January 1944
Decommissioned29 March 1946
Stricken1 May 1946
FateScrapped in 1964
General characteristics
Tonnage1,228 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement846 tons(lt) 2,270 tons(fl)
Length220 ft 6 in
Beam37 ft
Draught17 ft
PropulsionDiesel direct drive, single screw, 720 hp
Speed10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement62
Armamentone single 3 in (76 mm) dual purpose gun mount, two 40 mm guns, three single 20 mm gun mounts

Sakatonchee, MC hull 901, was laid down on 13 August 1942 by East Coast Shipyards, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey; launched on 22 May 1943; sponsored by Miss Mary Abate; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on 15 January 1944; and commissioned on 17 January 1944.

World War II service

Following shakedown off the U.S. East Coast, Sakatonchee steamed via Aruba and the Panama Canal to Milne Bay, New Guinea, arriving on 26 May 1944. She supplied petroleum products to forward bases in western New Guinea, such as those at Biak and Noemfoor islands. Her operations supported the campaign at Palawan, Philippine Islands, where the Allies landed on 28 February 1945, and at Balikpapan, Borneo, where the Allies landed on 1 July.

Post-war decommissioning

In January 1946, she arrived in San Francisco, California. Decommissioned on 29 March, she was struck from the Navy list on 1 May, transferred to the Maritime Commission on 1 July, and scrapped in 1964.

Military awards and honors

Sakatonchee received three battle stars for World War II service. Her crew was eligible for the following:

References

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


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