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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-20 Sepulga

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Golf - Tango
NUGT
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)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Patoka Class Fleet Oiler
  • Laid down in fiscal year 1918 under United States Shipping Board (USSB contract # 1659) for the Emergency Fleet Corp., at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, 21 April 1920
  • Transferred to the Navy from the USSB, 17 October 1921
  • Commissioned USS Sepulga (AO-20), 13 January 1922, LT. Arthur G. Somers, USNRF, in temporary command
  • Decommissioned, 15 April 1922
  • Laid up at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Recommissioned, 5 February 1940, CDR. Arthur R. Ponto in command
  • Decommissioned, 1 March 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 20 March 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 1 July 1946 for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 10 December 1946, to National Metal and Steel Co.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,400 t.(lt) 16,800 t.(fl)
    Length 447' 10"
    Beam 60'
    Draft 26' 2"(mean)
    Speed 11.2 kts.
    Complement 90
    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) engine, single screw, 2,800 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Tippecanoe 112k Sepulga (AO 20) center, is in board of the cruiser Salem (CL-3) while laid up at Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 14 October 1923. Photographed from Aroostook (CM-3), whose stern tanks are visible in the left foreground.
    US Navy photo # NH 82911 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, donation of Mrs Kelly Green, 1974.    		 Robert Hurst
    Tippecanoe 342k Sepulga (AO 20) is aft of Tippecanoe (AO-21) in reserve at the south end of Mare Island in 1930.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 467, 1930    		 Darryl Baker
    Tippecanoe 339k Sepulga (AO 20) is aft of Tippecanoe (AO-21) in reserve at the south end of Mare Island in 1930.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 466, 1930    		 Darryl Baker
    Tippecanoe 224k Sepulga (AO 20) is aft of Tippecanoe (AO-21) in reserve at the south end of Mare Island in 1930.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 465, 1930    		 Darryl Baker
    Sepulga 282k Broadside view of Sepulga (AO-20) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 13 August 1942 with YD-88 (left) and YD-33 (center) alongside. Sepulga was undergoing repairs at Mare Island from 10 to 21 August 1942.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4802-8-42, 8/13/42.    		 Darryl Baker
    Sepulga 483k Amidships looking aft plan view of Sepulga (AO-20) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 13 August 1942 with YD-88 alongside.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4805-8-42, 8/13/42.    		 Darryl Baker
    Sepulga 213k Forward starboard quaker view of Sepulga (AO-20) off Mare Island Navy Yard, 21 August 1942.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4921-8-42, 8/20/42.    		 Darryl Baker
    Sepulga 224k Broadside view of Sepulga (AO-20) off Mare Island Navy Yard, 21 August 1942.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4921-8-42, 8/21/42.    		 Darryl Baker
    Sepulga 397k Stern plan view of Sepulga (AO-20) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 21 August 1942, with YD-88 alongside.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4930-8-42, 8/21/42.    		 Darryl Baker
    Sepulga 72k Aft port quarter view of Sepulga (AO-20) off Mare Island, 21 August 1942..
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5020-8-42, 8/23/42.    		 Darryl Baker
    View the Sepulga (AO-20)
    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
    USS Sepulga AO-20
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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 1 February 2008