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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Ramapo (AO-12)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Golf - Papa
NUGP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal with fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Service Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Patoka Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 16 January 1919, under a United States Shipping Board (USSB) contact at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, 11 September 1919
  • Commissioned USS Ramapo, 15 November 1919, LCDR. J. D. Smith, USNRF, in command
  • Designated (AO-12), 17 July 1920
  • USS Ramapo was at Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941
  • Decommissioned, 10 January 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 21 January 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. for disposal, 30 June 1946
  • Sold to West Coast Transoceanic SS Line Agents, 23 April 1948
  • Resold, 23 April 1948, to James Polk
  • Resold, 15 November 1948, to the War Trade Corp.
  • Re-flagged Liberian, September 1950
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Ramapo received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,400 t.(lt) 17,820 t.(fl)
    Length 447' 10"
    Beam 60' 3"
    Draft 26' 2"(mean)
    Speed 11.2 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 18
    Enlisted 197
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Cargo Capacity Oil - 79,300 Bbls, 11,100DWT
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm gun mounts
    Propulsion
    one Newport News quadruple vertical reciprocating (#13 geared turbine) engine
    four Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 200psi Sat.
    three turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 2,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Ramapo 67k USS Ramapo (AO-12) builders place. Mark Ratto
    Ramapo 89k USS Ramapo (AO-12), date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site
    Ramapo 47k USS Ramapo (AO-12) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Ramapo 17k USS Ramapo (AO-12) at anchor off Lahaina, T.H., 31 March 1938. The water is so calm and she has her cane fenders down. Photo taken from USS New Orleans (CA-32) as she is coming along side Ramapo.
    US Navy photo    		 James D. McGrew
    Ramapo 12k Another view of USS Ramapo (AO-12) at anchor off Lahaina, T.H., 31 March 1938. Photo taken from USS New Orleans (CA-32) as she approaches the oiler.
    US Navy photo    		 James D. McGrew
    Ramapo 28k USS Ramapo (AO-12) underway in Chinese waters, date unknown. Jeff Schwarm
    Chicago 906k USS Ramapo (AO-12) is berthed outboard of USS Houston (CA-30), with USS Chicago (CA-29) berthed astern of Houston at the Navy Yard Mare Island, CA., 10 September 1940. USS William Ward Burrows (AP-6) and YD-33 (150 ton crane) are alongside Chicago.
    US Navy Photo.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ramapo 152k USS Ramapo (AO-12) (plan view amidships) moored at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 15 April 1943. Ramapo was at Mare Island from 4 April until 16 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2656-43, 4/15/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ramapo 53k USS Ramapo (AO-12) (stern view) underway after departing Mare Island Navy Yard, 17 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2740-43, 4/17/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ramapo 41k USS Ramapo (AO-12) (bows on view) underway after departing Mare Island Navy Yard, 17 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2742-43, 4/17/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ramapo 50k USS Ramapo (AO-12) (broadside view) underway after departing Mare Island Navy Yard, 17 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2742-43, 4/17/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    View the USS Ramapo (AO-12)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Smith, James Downing15 November 1919 - ?
    02CDR. Neal, George Franklin :RADM1921 - 1 June 1922
    03CDR. Bertholf, Wallace1 June 1922 - 6 March 1924
    04CAPT. Mc Crary, Frank, Robert6 March 1924 - 3 June 1926
    05CDR. Abernathy, Robert Andrew3 June 1926 - ?
    06CAPT. Woods, James Sterett9 September 1929 - ?
    08CAPT. Mayo, Claude Banks6 June 1931 - ?
    09LCDR. Bates, Richard Waller :RADM (temporary) :RADMMay 1933 - July 1933
    10CDR. Lafrenz, Walter FrederickJuly 1933 - ?
    11CDR. Barbey, Daniel Edward :VADMMarch 1936 - June 1936
    12CDR. Davis, Charles CovodeJune 1936 - April 1937
    13CDR. Holden, Carl Frederick :VADMMay 1937 - 1938
    14CDR. Wessell, Leonard Paul1938 - ?
    15CDR. Vose, William Cecil :RADM1939 - ?
    16CDR. Curry Jr., Duncan1941 - 1942
    17CDR. Carlisle, Harold AveryAugust 1942 - November 1942
    18CDR. Homann, Alfred James November
    19LCDR. Fogarty, William H.WW II
    20LCDR. Bale, John HardinWW II
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    U.S. Navy Oilers
    Pearl Harbor Action Report
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 27 January 2012