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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AO-56 Aucilla

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Lima - Quebec
 NZLQ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Lebanon 1-Dominican Republic)
Ashtabula Class Fleet Oiler
  • Laid down, 25 May 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 722), at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 20 November 1943
  • Commissioned USS Aucilla (AO-56), 22 December 1943, CDR. Cornelius M. Sullivan USN in command
  • Decommissioned, 18 December 1970, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Transferred, 7 October 1971, to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1976
  • Title transferred to MARAD, 3 July 1992
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Aucilla earned five battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32'
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 314
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm gun mounts
    four twin 20mm gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 146,000 barrels
    Propulsion geared turbines, twin propellers, 30,400hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Aucilla 57k Aucilla (AO-56) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, February 1957.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Aucilla 49k Aucilla (AO-56) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage scheme is 32/3AO in this photo. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII web site
    Aucilla 43k Aucilla (AO-56) refueling Newman K Perry (DD-883) and Forrestal (CVA-59), 25 March 1960, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # (USN 1047741.    		 .
    Aucilla 113k Aucilla (AO-56) underway, date and location unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    Aucilla 94k Aucilla (AO-56) underway during refueling operations with an unidentified aircraft carrier, date and location unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    Aucilla 78k Aucilla (AO-56) underway, date and location unknown. © Richard Leonhardt
    Aucilla 207k Aucilla (AO-56) underway in 1968, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 David Buell
    View the Aucilla (AO-56)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    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 18 August 2006