USS Tetonkaha (AOG-41) 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 Tetonkaha
NamesakeTetonkaha River in South Dakota
Ordered
  • as T1-M-A2) tanker hull
  • MC hull 2067
Laid down27 September 1944
Launched29 October 1944
Commissioned8 December 1944
Decommissioned22 January 1946
Stricken12 March 1946
FateSold; scrapped after collision in 1965
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 guns gun mounts

Tetonkaha was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2067) on 27 September 1944 at Bayonne, New Jersey, by the East Coast Shipyard, Inc.; launched on 29 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. J. Scatorwa; and commissioned on 8 December 1944.

World War II service edit

Tetonkaha departed New York harbor on 30 December 1944 for Hampton Roads, Virginia; arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, on New Year's Day, 1945; and began her nine-day shakedown the next day. The gasoline tanker stood out to sea on 2 February and headed for the Netherlands West Indies. Tetonkaha arrived at Aruba on the 10th; loaded a cargo of aviation gasoline and diesel oil; headed for the California coast; and arrived at San Diego, California, on 1 March. Two days later, the ship proceeded westward to Hawaii and reported to Service Squadron 8 for duty on 14 March.

Pacific Ocean operations edit

Tetonkaha supplied aviation gas to outlying islands in the Hawaiian group until August when she began making shuttle runs to Johnston Island.

Post-war activity edit

After Service Squadron 8 was dissolved on 1 September, the tanker continued on the Johnston Island shuttle for the 14th Naval District.

Post-war decommissioning edit

Tetonkaha was relieved of duty on 6 November and returned to San Francisco, California, in December 1945. She was decommissioned at Mare Island, California, on 22 January 1946; stripped; struck from the Navy list on 12 March; and transferred to the Maritime Commission on 1 July 1946. In 1949, the ship was sold to the Sun Oil Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and renamed Maumee Sun. Damaged in a collision with the MV American Pilot in November 1965.The USCGC Escanaba (WHEC-64) came to her aid after the collision. The Maumee Sun was subsequently scrapped.[1]

Military awards and honors edit

Her crew was eligible for the following medals:

References edit

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

  1. ^ "WWII Auxiliaries Combat Logistics Resupply Ships AE AF AO AOG". www.coltoncompany.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-08.

External links edit