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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO / T-AOT-79 Cowanesque

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

Suamico Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down as Fort Duquesne, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A1) tanker hull under a Maritime Commission contract at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA.

Launched, 11 March 1943

Acquired by the Navy 25 March 1943

Commissioned USS Cowanesque (AO-79), 1 May 1943

Decommissioned, 30 January 1946, at San Francisco. CA.

Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)

Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Reacquired and reinstated in the Naval Register, 18 January 1948

Placed in service with the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) as Cowanesque (AO-79)

Transferred to the custody of the Military Sea Transportation Service, 1 October 1949 and placed in service as USNS Cowanesque (T-AO-79)

Reclassified Transport Oiler (T-AOT-79) (date unknown)

Final Disposition, sunk, 23 April 1972, off Okinawa

Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)

Cowanesque received two 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
	68k	Cowanesque (AO-79) at anchor, date and place unknown. US Navy photo		Lee Yunker for her father Harold C. Smith

View the Cowanesque (AO-79)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
No Information Available

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