Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-86 Ponaganset

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 (2)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Suamico Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 27 April 1942, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC 1265) at Marinship, Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 10 July 1943
  • Commissioned USS Ponaganset (AO-86), 15 May 1944, CDR. John R. Sanford Jr., in command
  • During World War II Ponaganset (AO-86) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 26 April 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 23 April 1947
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal at Norfolk, VA., 15 May 1947
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 2 March 1948
  • Title transferred back to the Maritime Commission, 30 June 1948, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 7 January 1949, to Northern Metal Co.
  • Ponaganset earned 2 battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,782 t.(lt) 22,380 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 10"
    Speed 15 kts.
    Complement 300
    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, twin propellers, 8,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Ponaganset 109k Ponaganset (AO-86) Commissioning Ceremony Program. Robert M. Cieri
    Ponaganset 343k Ponaganset (AO-86) taking on water at Balusoa Water Point, Samar, P.I., date unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    View the Ponaganset (AO-86)
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    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