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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO / T-AOT-78 Chepachet

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Victor - Kilo
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - European-African- Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal (2)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
Suamico Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down as SS Eutaw Springs, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A1) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 340) at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 10 May 1943
  • Commissioned USS Chepachet (AO-78), 27 April 1943, LCDR. H. R. Adams in command
  • During WWII Chepachet was assigned to first the European Theater and later the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 23 to 30 October 1945 and 7 to 10 November 1944     		Borneo operation
    Balikpapan operation, 21 to 19 July 1945

  • Decommissioned, 15 May 1946, at San Francisco. CA.
  • Reclassified as a Transport Oiler and placed in service with the Military Sea Transportation Service MSTS as USNS Chepachet (T-AOT-78), manned by a contract civilian maritime crew
  • Placed out of service in July 1950
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 4 January 1980
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal
  • Final Disposition, to be disposed of by MARAD, 1 April 1980, fate unknown
    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 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 Contributed
    By
    USS Chepachet (AO-78)
    Chepachet 54k Chepachet (AO-78)
    US Navy photo    		 Andy Curtis
    USNS Chepachet (T-AO-78)
    Chepachet 216k Chepachet (T-TAO-78)
    underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain
    President, MSC Retiree Association
    Chepachet 26k Chepachet (T-TAO-78)
    underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    View the Chepachet (AO-78)
    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
    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
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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 11 May 2007