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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-80 Escambia

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Escambia Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down in December 1942, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull, under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1259) at Marinship, Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 24 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS Escambia (AO-80), 28 October 1943, Lcdr. J. M. Paulsson, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 20 February 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 26 January 1948
  • Operated under contract to Naval Transportation Service
  • Placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Escambia (T-AO-80), 18 July 1950
  • Placed out of service, (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1957
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, acquired by the US Army in May 1966 and converted to a Mobile Army Emergency Power Plant assigned to Vietnam service
  • Scrapped by Vietnam Government in August 1971
  • Escambia received five battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,782 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 10"
    Speed 15 kts,
    Complement 267
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four 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, 8,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Escambia 82k Stern plan view of Escambia (AO-80) at San Francisco, 17 July 1943, while she was undergoing conversion for Naval service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5238-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Escambia 82k Broadside view of Escambia (AO-80) off San Francisco, 12 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5595-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Escambia 63k Stern view of Escambia (AO-80) off San Francisco, 12 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5598-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Escambia 50k Escambia (AO-80) underway, date and place unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    View the Escambia (AO-80)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Escambia (AO-80)
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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 7 April 2006