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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Lost to enemy action, 20 November 1944

AO-59 Mississinewa


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


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Cimmeron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 5 October 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A1) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 725) at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 28 March 1944
  • Commissioned USS Mississinewa (AO-59), 18 May 1944, CAPT. Philip G. Beek, USNR, in command
  • Lost due to enemy action, 20 November 1944 at Ulithi anchorage, Caroline Islands, sunk by Kaiten manned torpedo, one of five launched from IJN submarines I-36 and I-47
  • Mississinewa received four battle stars for 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 AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 146,000 barrels
    Propulsion geared turbines, twin screws, 30,400hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Mississinewa 130k Mississinewa (AO-59) anchored, Hampton Roads, Virginia, 25 May 1944. She is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32, Design 3AO.
    US Navy photo NH 97279 from the collections of the US Naval Historical center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mississinewa 59k Mississinewa (AO-59) underway, circa May 1944, location unknown. She is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32, Design 3AO.
    US Navy photo NH 97280 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mississinewa 65k Mississinewa (AO-59) burning and sinking at Ulithi Atoll 20 November 1944, after being hit by a Japanese "Kaiten" human torpedo. A small aircraft carrier (CVL) is anchored in the foreground.
    US National Archives photo 80-G-270753, A US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mississinewa 183k Mississinewa (AO-59) just moments before sinking. Photo taken by SK2 Simon "Sid" Harris from the bridge of the Munsee (ATF 107). Source: "Naval History", April 2003 issue, US Naval Institute. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    View the Mississinewa (AO-59)
    DANFS History entry located on 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 Mississinewa AO-59
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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