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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Sapelo (AO-11)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Golf - Sierra
NUGS
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 4 May 1943, Convoy ONS-5) - American Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - American Campaign Service Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Patoka Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 3 May 1919, under a United States Shipping Board (USSB) contact at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, 24 December 1919
  • Transferred to the US Navy, 30 January 1920
  • Commissioned USS Sapelo, 19 February 1920
  • Designated (AO-11), 17 July 1920
  • Decommissioned, 14 October 1932 for lay up in the reserve fleet
  • Recommissioned, 19 August 1940
  • During World War II USS Sapelo (AO-11) was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet
  • Decommissioned, 26 October 1945, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 13 November 1945
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in May 1946 to Patapsco Scrap Co.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,400 t.(lt) 16,500 t.(fl)
    Length 447' 10"
    Beam 60' 3"
    Draft 26' 2"(mean)
    Speed 10.5 kts
    Complement 75
    Cargo Capacity 70,000 bbls
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion reciprocating (#13 geared turbine) engines, single screw, 2,800 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Sapelo 113k USS Sapelo (AO-11) at anchor in San Diego Bay, CA., 28 January 1933.
    US Navy photo # NH 65154, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    Sapelo 61k USS Sapelo (AO-11) underway, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Sapelo 97k USS Sapelo (AO-11) at Norfolk Navy Yard, in March 1941. Measure 1 Dark Grey (5-D) is being applied over her standard navy grey paint, one of the ship colors prescribed for US warships prior to the publication of the Buships-2 Camouflage Instructions.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    View the USS Sapelo (AO-11)
    DANFS history entry located at The US Naval Historical Center
    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
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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 14 November 2008