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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-4 Brazos

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Foxtrot - Kilo
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 (date unknown) 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 Brazos was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • 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.
  • Brazos received one battle star for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,723 t.(lt) 14,800 t.(fl)
    Length 475' 1"
    Beam 56' 2"
    Draft 26' 8"
    Speed 14.3 kts.
    Complement 136
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    Propulsion system unknown
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Brazos 76k Brazos (AO-4) refueling Yorktown (CV-5) mid-Pacific, July 1940.
    US National Archives, (Seattle Branch) RG-181.    		 Tracy White
    Brazos 64k Stern view of Brazos (AO-4) refueling Yorktown (CV-6) mid-Pacific, July 1940.
    US National Archives, (Seattle Branch) RG-181.    		 Tracy White
    Brazos 38k Brazos (AO-4) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Brazos 32k Brazos (AO-4) underway March 1944, location unknown. Camouflage is measure 32/AO.
    US Navy photo     		.
    View the Brazos (AO-4)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 16 November 2007