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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AO-41 Mattaponi

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Bravo - Zulu
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (7-Vietnam, 3-Korea) - United Nations Service Medal
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korean War Service Medal (retroactive)
Mattaponi Class Fleet Oiler
  • Laid down for Keystone Tankship Corp. as SS Kalkay, a Maritime Commission type (T2-A-MC-K) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 149) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 17 January 1942
  • Commissioned USS Mattaponi (AO-41), 11 May 1942, CDR. Martin J. Gillan, Jr., in command
  • Decommissioned, 17 April 1950, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 28 December 1950, designated (T-AO-41)
  • Decommissioned, 12 October 1954, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 12 December 1956
  • Decommissioned, 11 November 1957, at New Orleans
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1959
  • Reinstated on the Naval Register, 1 September 1961
  • Recommissioned, 30 November 1962, at Mobile, AL.
  • During the Vietnam War Mattaponi participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    30 September to 7 October 1966
    12 to 24 October 1966
    30 October to 8 November 1966
    25 November to 6 December 1966
    13 to 22 January 1967
    27 January to 2 February 1967
    11 to 23 February 1967
    5 to 12 March 1967     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    22 February to 3 March 1970
    12 to 20 March 1970
    4 to 11 and 29 to 30 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 to 10 and 18 to 24 November 1968
    30 November to 9 December 1968
    13 to 21 December 1968
    29 December 1968 to 7 January 1969
    24 January to 2 February 1969
    5 to 7 and 13 to 21 February 1969     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 to 8 May 1970
    8 to 15 and 21 to 27 June 1970
    Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    2 to 12 and 19 to 25 March 1969
    31 March to 3 April 1969     		.

  • Decommissioned (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register in October 1970
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 22 January 1971, for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 15 December 1973, to Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation, New York City, for $50,184.50 and subsequently scrapped
  • Mattaponi earned five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,809 t.(lt) 21,450 t.(fl)
    Length 520'
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 6"
    Speed 17 kts.
    Complement 242
    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 135,000 barrels
    Propulsion geared turbine, single screw, 12,800hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Mattaponi 49k Mattaponi (AO-41) underway, date and place unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Mattaponi 72k Mattaponi (AO-41) refueling Rowen (DD-782) to starboard, Coral Sea (CVA-43) to port, circa 1964-65.
    US Navy photo    		 -
    View the Mattaponi (AO-41)
    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 Mattaponi AO-41
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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 17 August 2007