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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-81 Kennebago

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal
Escambia Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 9 January 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1260) at Marinship, Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 9 May 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy 30 July 1943
  • Converted for Naval service at Matson Navigation Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Commissioned USS Kennebago (AO-81), 4 December 1943, Cdr. B. N. Bock in command
  • Decommissioned, 19 July 1946, at Boston, MA.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 24 May 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 1 October 1949, and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
  • Placed in service as USNS Kennebago (T-AO-81), September 1950
  • Placed out of service, 27 November 1957, at Beaumont, TX.
  • Transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Reacquired and placed in service by MSTS, 23 May 1958
  • Placed out of service, 22 May 1959, at New York, N.Y.
  • Transferred to MARAD, 23 June 1959, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Acquired by the US Army, 20 May 1966, converted to a Mobile Army Emergency Power Plant and assigned to Vietnam service
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1971
  • Kennebago received six 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 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, 8,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Kennebago 181k Forward plan view from the bridge of Kennebago (AO-81) at Matson Navigation Co. piers in San Francisco, CA., 6 August 1943, before conversion for Naval service
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5746-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Kennebago 83k Broadside view of Kennebago (AO-81) moored at Matson Navigation Co. piers in San Francisco, CA., 6 August 1943, before conversion for Naval service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5748-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Kennebago 157k Forward plan view from the bridge of Kennebago (AO-81) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 15 December 1943, after conversion for Naval service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8274-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Kennebago 157k Aft plan view from the bridge of Kennebago (AO-81) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 15 December 1943, after conversion for Naval service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8276-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Kennebago 56k Stern view of Kennebago (AO-81) departing Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 16 December 1943, after conversion for Naval service. Kennebago was in overhaul at Mare Island from 4 to 16 December 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8302-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Kennebago 74k Broadside view of Kennebago (AO-81) off Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 16 December 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8304-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Kennebago 60k Bows on view of Kennebago (AO-81) off Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 16 December 1943, with the tug Tillamook (YT 122) assisting .
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8308-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Kennebago 25k Line drawing of Kennebago (AO-81) underway Brettt Kirby
    View the Kennebago (AO-81)
    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
    No Information Available
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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