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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-85 Pamanset

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Uniform - Golf

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Escambia Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 30 March 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC Hull 1264) at Marinship, Sausalito, CA.

Launched, 25 June 1943

Commissioned USS Pamanset (AO-85), 30 April 1944, CDR. D. J. Houle in command

During WWII Pamanset was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Western Caroline Islands operation	Iwo Jima operation
Leyte operation	Okinawa Gunto operation
Luzon operation	3rd Fleet operations against Japan

Decommissioned, 18 March 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1946

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 11 October 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, Benecia, CA.

Leased, 24 October 1947, to Pacific Tankers

Title transferred to the US Navy, 10 February 1948

Placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Pamanset (T-AO-85), 1 October 1949

During the Korean War Pamanset operated in the war zone during various periods between March 1951 and February 1954

Placed out of service, 24 February 1956 and transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA. Group

Reacquired by the US Navy, 26 June 1956, and placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Pamanset (T-AO-85),

Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 26 September 1957, and transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.

Commercial Service

Title transferred, 3 May 1966 to Hudson Waterways Corp. (MARAD Exchange Program), renamed SS Seatrain Florida

Converted to a containership in March 1967

Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD Trade-in Program) and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., assigned to the Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force (RRF)

Renamed SS Florida, 8 August 1978

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 12 March 1986

Pamanset earned six battle stars during World War II

Specifications:
Displacement 5,532 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
Length 523' 6"
Beam 68'
Draft 30' 10"
Speed 18 kts.
Complement 267
Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
Cargo Capacity 140,000 barrels
Propulsion turbo-electric, twin screws, 8,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
	47k	Pamanset (AO-85) underway with Essex (CV-9) in background. *Pamanset* is painted in camouflage Measure 32 Design 3AO.		Hyperwar US Navy in WWII

View the Pamanset (AO-85)
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

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Last Updated 16 November 2007