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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-7 Arethusa

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Mexican Service Medal - World War I Victory Medal (with Transport clasp)
Fleet Oiler
  • Built in 1893 at Stockton, England, by Craig, Taylor & Company as SS Lucilene
  • Purchased by the US Navy, 12 August 1898
  • Commissioned, USS Arethusa in August 1898, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, CDR. John F. Merry in command
  • Decommissioned, 1 February 1899, at Philadelphia, PA.
  • Recommissioned, 22 August 1900
  • Decommissioned, 16 March 1906, at Philadelphia
  • Placed in service, 17 July 1906
  • Recommissioned, 29 November 1907
  • Decommissioned, 15 October 1909, and placed in service the same day
  • Recommissioned 9 January 1918
  • Designated, AO-07, 17 July 1920
  • Decommissioned, 28 June 1922, at Boston, MA.
  • Final Disposition, sold, 7 July 1927, to Mr. Marshall B. Hall of Boston, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,319 t.
    Length 343' 5"
    Beam 42'2"
    Draft 23 '6"
    Speed 9.5 kts.
    Complement 94
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion steam, single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Arethusa 69k Arethusa circa 1898, served as a water carrier during the Spanish-American War, but was commissioned too late to see service in that conflict. About a decade later, she became the U.S. Navy's first oiler.
    US Navy photo NH 61686    		 US Naval Historical Center
    View the Arethusa (AO-7)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Not Applicable to this Vessel
    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 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 13 April 2007