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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AO-36 Kennebec

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Kilo - Whiskey
NBKW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4-Vietnam, 5-Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kennebec Class Fleet Oiler
  • Laid down as SS Corsicana, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SO) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 142), at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 19 April 1941
  • Acquired by the Navy, 13 January 1942
  • Commissioned USS Kennebec (AO-36), 4 February 1942, CDR. S. S. Reynolds in command
  • During World War II Kennebec was assigned to both the European and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the:
    European Theater
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North African Occupation
    Algeria-Morocco landings, 7 to 14 November 1942     		.

  • Decommissioned, 4 September 1950, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 11 January 1951, at Oakland, CA., CDR. A. G. Beckman in command
  • Decommissioned, 25 September 1954, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 14 December 1956, CDR. Naden F. Stimac in command
  • Decommissioned, 31 October 1957
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 14 January 1959
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Reacquired by the Navy and recommissioned, 16 December 1961
  • During the Vietnam War Kennebec participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    25 to 29 September 1965
    7 to 10 and 20 to 26 October1965
    30 October to 11 November 1965
    23 to 27 November 1965
    8 to 15 December 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    7 to 15 April 1968
    26 April to 5 May 1968
    11 to 20 and 25 to 28 May 1968
    3 to 10, 15 to 22 and 30 June 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    31 December 1965
    15 to 17 January 1966
    2 to 7 and 19 to 25 February 1966
    5 to 10 and 22 to 30 March 1966
    7 to 11 and 22 to 25 April 1966
    30 April to 2 May 1966
    6 to 12 and 28 to 29 May 1966     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 to 07 July 1968
    12 to 20 September 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    5 to 9 and 18 to 28 February 1967
    11 to 19 March 1967
    25 March to 3 April 1967
    9 to 18 April 1967
    5 to 15 May 1967     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    11 to 18 June 1969
    24 June to 1 July 1969
    11 to 20 July 1969
    7 to 16 and 21 to 27 August 1969
    3 to 8 and 22 to 28 September 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    24 June to 4 July 1967
    9 to 16 and 22 to 29 July 1967
    3 to 16 August 1967     		.

  • Decommissioned, 29 June 1970, at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Mare Island, Vallejo, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 July 1976
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD for non-transportation use, 6 April 1982, to Levin Metals Corporation for $180,077.00 and subsequently scrapped.
  • Kennebec received one battle star for World War II service and seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,013 t.(lt) 21,077 t.(fl)
    Length 501' 5"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 2"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 214
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 134,000 barrels
    Propulsion geared turbine, single screw, 12,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Kennebec 43k Artist C.G. Evers painting of Kennebec (AO-36) underway during World War II
    US Navy photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Kennebec 15k Kennebec (AO-36) underway, 4 October 1942, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Kennebec 70k Kennebec (AO-36) at anchor, date and location unknown. Harvey Golden
    Kennebec 43k Kennebec (AO-36) underway, circa October 1942, location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Kennebec 95k Kennebec (AO-36) underway two days out of Yokosuka, Japan, 22 April 1969 © Richard Leonhardt
    Kennebec 103k Kennebec (AO-36) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Courtesy Dick Hawkins
    USS Kennebec (AO 36) web site
    Kennebec 71k Kennebec (AO-36) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Chet Morris
    View the Kennebec (AO-36)
    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 Kennebec (AO 36) Association
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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 18 January 2008