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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121)
ex
 Mission San Diego (AO-121) (1947 - 1950)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Papa - November
 NHPN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 20 December 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1814) at Marinship Corp., Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 14 March 1944
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, chartered to Deconhill Shipping Co., 30 April 1944, for operation
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 29 March 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Acquired by the Navy, 17 October 1947,
  • Placed under operation control of the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) as Mission San Diego (AO-121)
  • Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) 1 October 1949 and placed in service as USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121)
  • Placed out of service, 30 December 1954
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 22 June 1955
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 3 July 1956 for service with MSTS
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration and struck from the Naval Register, 16 October 1957, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Sold to Hudson Waterways Corp., 10 November 1966, renamed SS Seatrain Washington and converted to a combination train ferry and containership
  • Sold, date unknown, renamed SS Washington
  • Final Disposition, scrapped, date unknown
    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
    USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121)
    Mission San Diego
    091912108    		 99k
    Namesake
    Mission San Diego de Alcalá - was the first Franciscan mission in The Californias, a province of New Spain. Located in present-day San Diego, California, it was founded on July 16, 1769, by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay people. (Wikipedia)
    Photo of a painting of Mission San Diego de Alcalá as it appeared in 1848 depicts the original campanario ("bell tower"), before it was reduced to rubble. The painting also shows the enclosed front portico, artist unknown. (Wikipedia)    		 Tommy Trampp
    Mission San Diego 81k USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121) under way off Long Beach, CA., date unknown. David Buell
    Mission San Diego 1484k USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121) under way off Long Beach/San Pedro, CA. area, date unknown. David Buell
    Merchant Service Seatrain Corp.
    Mission San Diego 385k Ex-USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121) in commercial service as SS Seatrain Washington moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, May 1971 while working cargo. Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    Mission San Diego 374k SS Seatrain Washington moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, May 1971 while working cargo. Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    Mission San Diego 52k SS Washington moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, September 1980 Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    Mission San Diego 52k SS Washington moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, September 1980 Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    Mission San Diego 130k SS Washington moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, December 1990 while loading cargo for the first Gulf War. Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    USNS Mission San Diego (T-AO-121)
    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 Data Base
    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 12 February 2021