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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Mission Loreto (T-AO-116)
ex
 Mission Loreto (AO-116) (1947 - 1949)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - November - Sierra
 NHNS
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 27 April 1944, as SS Mission Loreto, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC 1824) at Marinship, Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 28 June 1944
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 22 July 1944, for operation under charter by Los Angeles Tanker Operators, Inc.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 26 April 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL.
  • Acquired by the Navy, 20 November 1947, designated SS Mission Loreto (AO-116) and assigned to the Naval Transportation Service (NTS)
  • Absorbed into the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 October 1949 and redesignated USNS Mission Loreto (T-AO-116)
  • Placed out of service, struck from the Naval Register, and returned to the Maritime Administration, 25 August 1955, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 25 June 1956, and placed in service with MSTS on the same date
  • Place out of service, struck from the Naval Register and returned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., 16 July 1959
  • Final Disposition, sold, 2 September 1975, for scrapping under MARAD Contract PD-X-998 of 16 July 1975, to Ziedell Explorations Inc., Portland, OR. for $251,898.99
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,532 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 10"
    Speed 15.1 kts (trial)
    Complement
    52 CivMar
    17 US Navy Armed Guard
    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 15,300DWT
    Oil 120,400 Bbls
    Gasoline 575,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 9,235 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric turbo-electric engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox D-type boilers, 600psi 825°

    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 400Kw 450V A.C.
     two turbo-drive 85Kw 120V D.C.
     two turbo-drive 55Kw 120V D.C.
     one turbo-drive 50Kw 450V A.C.
    single propeller, 10,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    SS Mission Loreto (War Shipping Administration)
    Mission Loreto 127k SS Mission Loreto with the battle cry "Fight With Ike" on her bow as she slides down the ways at Marineship, 28 June 1944. This tanker trim was executed by Charles Pearson, former sign painter who worked in the yard as a hull painter during World War II.
    US Maritime Commission photo courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages.    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Mission Loreto (T-AO-116)
    Mission Loreto
    091911603    		 197k
    Namesake
    Mission Loreto was founded, 25 October 25, 1697, at the Monqui Native American settlement of Conchó in the present city of Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Established by the Catholic Church's Jesuit missionary Juan María de Salvatierra, Loreto was the first successful mission and Spanish town in Baja California. (Wikipedia)    		 Tommy Trampp
    Mission Loreto 903k USNS Mission Loreto (T-AO-116) underway in Long Beach Harbor area, date unknown. David Buell
    USNS Mission Loreto (T-AO-116)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 27 November 2020