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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-49 Suamico

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Golf - Charlie
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 19 March 1943 & 7 January 1945) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (8)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Suamico Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 27 September 1941, as SS Harlem Heights, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A1) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 319) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 30 May 1942
  • Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Commission, 27 June 1942
  • Commissioned USS Suamico (AO-49), 10 August 1942. CDR. R. E. Butterfield in command
  • During WWII Suamico was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Gilbert Islands operation Leyte operation
    Marshall Islands operation Luzon operation
    Marianas operation Iwo Jima operation
    Tinian operation Okinawa Gunto operation

  • Decommissioned, 20 January 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 4 October 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, name reverted to SS Harlem Heights
  • Leased to American Pacific Steamship Co., 23 January 1948
  • Reacquired by the US Navy, 23 January 1948, assigned to the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) to be operated under contract by American Pacific Steamship Co.
  • Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 October 1949 and placed in service as USNS Suamico (T-AO-49)
  • Placed out of service (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 November 1974
  • Returned, 22 January 1975, to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) sold the same day to Fuji Marden & Co., Hong Kong, BCC
  • Final Disposition, 13 February 1975, delivered to a breakers yard at Yokohama, Japan for dismantling
  • Suamico earned eight battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,782 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30'
    Speed 15.5 kts.
    Complement 251
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 140,000 barrels
    Propulsion turbo-electric, single screw. 8,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Suamico (AO-49)
    Suamico 115k Forward plan view of Suamico (AO-49) moored at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 31 July 1943. On the left is Alchiba (AKA 6).
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5548.    		 Darryl Baker
    Suamico 65k Stern view of Suamico (AO-49) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 31 July 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5549.    		 Darryl Baker
    Suamico 66k Broadside view of Suamico (AO-49) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 31 July 1943. Suamico was in overhaul at Mare Island from 22 July until 31 July 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5551.    		 Darryl Baker
    Suamico 35k Suamico (AO-49) at anchor, date and location unknown. She is painted in camouflage scheme 12(modified). Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Suamico 94k Suamico (AO-49) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is measure 32 design 7AO. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    USNS Suamico (T-AO-49)
    Suamico 47k Suamico (T-AO-49) underway, date and place unknown. While assigned to MSTS Suamico was used for point to point transportation of oil, note that she does not have the underway refreshment rig shown in her earlier photos. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Suamico 37k Suamico (T-AO-49) underway bound for Naval Station Guantanemo Bay, Cuba with a load of potable water, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1964    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    View the Suamico (AO-49)
    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
    No Information Available
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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 16 November 2007