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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Brazos (AO-4)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Foxtrot - Kilo
BUFK
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Brazos Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 21 June 1917, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
  • Launched, 1 May 1919
  • Commissioned USS Brazos, 1 October 1919, CDR. R. Werner, USNRF, in command
  • Designated (AO-4), 17 July 1920
  • During World War II USS Brazos was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 29 March to 30 June 1945

  • Decommissioned, 8 February 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 30 June 1946, for disposal at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA..
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping 6 January 1947 to Boston Metals Co.
  • USS Brazos received one battle star for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,723 t.(lt) 14,700 t.(fl)
    Length 475' 7"
    Beam 56' 2"
    Draft 26' 6" (limiting)
    Speed 14.3 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 24
    Enlisted 231
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40MM AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity
    NFSO 53,500Bbls
    Gasoline 167,000Gals
    Ship's Service Generators
    one diesel-drive 50Kw, 120V D.C.
    three turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    Fuel Capacity NFSO 5,900Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Boston Navy Yard vertical triple-expansion steam turbine
    four Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers, 200psi, Sat.
    single propeller, 5,200shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Brazos 76k USS Brazos (AO-4) refueling USS Yorktown (CV-5) mid-Pacific, July 1940.
    US National Archives, (Seattle Branch) RG-181.    		 Tracy White
    Brazos 64k Stern view of USS Brazos (AO-4) refueling USS Yorktown (CV-5) mid-Pacific, July 1940.
    US National Archives, (Seattle Branch) RG-181.    		 Tracy White
    Brazos 38k USS Brazos (AO-4) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Brazos 32k USS Brazos (AO-4) underway March 1944, location unknown. Camouflage is measure 32/AO.
    US Navy photo     		.
    View the USS Brazos (AO-4)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. R. Werner1 October 1919 - ~
    03CDR. Puleston, William Dillworth,~1923 - ~
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 3 July 2009