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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

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
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
92k	Saugatuck (AO-75) moored pierside San Francisco, CA., 20 June 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo #4552-43, 6/20/43.	Darryl Baker
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
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
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
119k	Saugatuck (AO-75) underway in convoy, circa 1943-45.	John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
271k	Saugatuck (AO-75) refueling Mass BB-59) in the Pacific Ocean, 20 April 1945. Photo taken from *Hornet (CV-12)*.	Pieter Bakels
199k	Saugatuck (AO-75) refueling Mass BB-59) in the Pacific Ocean, 20 April 1945. Photo taken from *Hornet (CV-12)*.	Pieter Bakels
63k	Saugatuck (AO-75) underway in typhoon weather off Okinawa, post-war, Fall 1945.	John Chiquoine and Carmen Costa, courtesy Al DeSantis collection
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
114k	Saugatuck (AO-75) underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1948	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
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