Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Merrimack (AO-37)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Hotel - Delta
 NIHD
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (3) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row- Navy Occupation Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Kennebec Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 12 September 1940, as SS Caddo, a Maritime Commission type T2-SO) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 143), at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 1 July 1941
  • Acquired by the US Navy from Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., New York City, N.Y., 31 December 1941
  • Renamed Merrimack 9 January 1942
  • Commissioned USS Merrimack (AO-37), 4 February 1942, CAPT. William E. Hilbert in command
  • During World War II USS Merrimack was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    North African occupation
    Algeria - Morocco landings, 9 to 11 November 1942     		Luzon operation
    Luzon attacks, 3,4,15 and 21 January 1945
    Formosa attacks, 6 to 7 January 1945
    China Coast attacks, 16 January 1945
    Sicilian occupation Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 16 February to 2 March 1945
    Salerno landings Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 17 March to 30 June 1945
    Invasion of southern France 3rd Fleet operations against Japan,, 10 to 29 July 1945

    Decommissioned, 8 February 1950
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange, TX.
  • Recommissioned, 6 December 1950
  • Decommissioned, 20 December 1954 at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 4 February 1959
  • Transferred, to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD (Trade-In Exchange Program), 29 March 1982, to Eckhart & Co., scrapped in Germany
    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
    our 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 Contributed By
    Merrimack 43k USS Merrimack (AO-37) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo         		William Toohey for his father
    Bill Toohey SK1, USN 1947, USS Merrimack
    Click to see additional photos of Merrimack (AO-37)
    View the USS Merrimack (AO-37)
    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
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    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