USS Ochlockonee

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History
United States
NameUSS Ocklockonee
NamesakeOcklockonee River in Georgia and Florida
Ordered
  • as T1-M-A2 tanker hull,
  • MC hull 1530
Laid down18 October 1944
Launched19 November 1944
Acquired18 December 1944
Commissioned29 December 1944
Decommissioned14 January 1946
Stricken7 February 1946
IdentificationIMO number5281221
FateSunk as a deep water artificial reef
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

USS Ochlockonee (AOG-33) 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.

Ochlockonee, formerly MC Hull 1530, was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 18 October 1944 by East Coast Shipyard, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey; launched 19 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Albert Robinette; acquired by the Navy 18 December 1944; and commissioned 29 December.

World War II service[edit]

Following shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay, Ochlockonee departed Norfolk 15 February 1945 for Hawaii via Aruba, the Panama Canal, and San Diego, California, arriving 14 April. Operating out of Pearl Harbor for the remainder of the war, Ochlockonee made fueling runs among the Hawaiians and to Johnston and Canton Islands.

Post-war decommissioning[edit]

She decommissioned at San Pedro, California, 14 January 1946, and was struck from the Navy List 7 February. Returned to the Maritime Administration on 21 June, she subsequently entered merchant service and was named Texaco No. 10, later renamed Vincent Tibbetts until laid up in 2001. Final disposition: sunk as a deep water artificial reef, 5 September 2002, off the New Jersey coast.

Military awards and honors[edit]

Ochlockonee’s crew was eligible for the following medals:

References[edit]

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

External links[edit]