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

AO / T-AOT-75 Saugatuck

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Whiskey - Xray
NYWX
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (18 June 1944)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row- Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal

Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (1 KIA, 18 June 1944)

Suamico Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 20 August 1942, as SS Newtown a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A1) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 355) at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA.
  • Renamed Saugatuck, 16 September 1942
  • Launched, 7 December 1942
  • Acquired by the Navy, 21 December 1942
  • Converted for Naval service at Bethlehem Steel Co., Key Highway Plant, Baltimore, MD.
  • Commissioned USS Saugatuck (AO-75), 19 February 1943, LCDR. Ben Koerner, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 29 March 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred, 9 October 1946 to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Chartered by Pacific Tankers, 30 October 1947
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 22 January 1948 and assigned to the Naval Transportation Service (NTS)
  • Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Saugatuck (T-AOT-75) (date unknown)
  • Placed out of service (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 5 November 1974, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Final Disposition, contract for scrapping awarded, 2 June, 2006, removed from the James River Reserve Fleet, 18 July 2006 and moved by tug to Bay Bridge Enterprise of Chesapeake, VA. for scrapping
  • Saugatuck earned seven battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,730 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30'
    Speed 15.5 kts.
    Complement 251
    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 140,000 barrels
    Propulsion Turbo-electric, single screw, 8,000hp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Saugatuck 931k Starboard broadside view of Saugatuck (AO-75) underway in Hampton Roads off Portsmouth, VA., prior to departing for the Pacific Theater, 6 April 1943.
    US Navy Yard Norfolk, photo #5023(43) April 6, 1943 / BUSHIPS photo #45790.
    David Buell
    Saugatuck 92k Saugatuck (AO-75) moored pierside San Francisco, CA., 20 June 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo #4552-43, 6/20/43.
    Darryl Baker
    Saugatuck 48k Saugatuck (AO-75) (stern view) in San Francisco Bay, 21 June 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo #4587-43, 6/21/43.
    Darryl Baker
    Saugatuck 57k Saugatuck (AO-75) (broadside view) in San Francisco Bay, 21 June 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo #4589-43, 6/21/43.
    Darryl Baker
    Saugatuck 46k Saugatuck (AO-75) (bows on view) in San Francisco Bay, 21 June 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo #4591-43, 6/21/43.
    Darryl Baker
    Saugatuck 119k Saugatuck (AO-75) underway in convoy, circa 1943-45. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 271k Saugatuck (AO-75) refueling Mass BB-59) in the Pacific Ocean, 20 April 1945. Photo taken from Hornet (CV-12). Pieter Bakels
    Saugatuck 199k Saugatuck (AO-75) refueling Mass BB-59) in the Pacific Ocean, 20 April 1945. Photo taken from Hornet (CV-12). Pieter Bakels
    Saugatuck 63k Saugatuck (AO-75) underway in typhoon weather off Okinawa, post-war, Fall 1945. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 61k Port bow view of Saugatuck (AO-75) at anchor in San Francisco Bay with open lighter YC-824 alongside, circa late-1945 early-1946. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 88k Starboard bow view of Saugatuck (AO-75) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, circa late-1945 early-1946. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 66k Starboard bow view of Saugatuck (AO-75) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, circa late-1945 early-1946. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 64k Port broadside view of Saugatuck (AO-75) at anchor in San Francisco Bay with an open lighter alongside, circa late-1945 early-1946. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 57k Starboard quarter view of Saugatuck (AO-75) at anchor in San Francisco Bay with an open lighter alongside, circa late-1945 early-1946. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 77k View of Saugatuck (AO-75) looking aft from atop the foremast, circa late-1945 early-1946, probably in San Francisco Bay. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 79k View of Saugatuck (AO-75) looking forward from the afterdeck to the superstructure, circa late-1945 early-1946, probably in San Francisco Bay. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 92k View of Saugatuck (AO-75) the foc'sle from the foremast, circa late-1945 early-1946, probably in San Francisco Bay. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 228k View of Saugatuck (AO-75) the flag bag on the bridge, circa late-1945 early-1946, probably in San Francisco Bay. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 213k View of Saugatuck (AO-75) aft from the superstructure, circa late-1945 early-1946, probably in San Francisco Bay. John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
    Saugatuck 114k Saugatuck (AO-75) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1948
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Saugatuck 66k Ex-Saugatuck (AOT-75) being moved from the James River Reserve Fleet through Hampton Roads while enroute to Bay Bridge Enterprise of Chesapeake, VA. for scrapping, 18 July 2006. Note the Norfolk, VA. skyline in th background. Photo by Mabel Clark

    View the Saugatuck (AO-75)
    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 Saugatuck, The Last Navy T2 Oiler
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index Back To The Transport Oiler (AOT) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    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 January 2008