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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123)
ex
 Mission San Francisco (AO-123) (1947 - 1949)

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

National Defense Service Medal
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 5 May 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract at Marinship Corp., Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 18 September 1945
  • Delivered, 11 October 1945, for charter to Deconhill Shipping Co. for operations
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 14 April 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL.
  • Acquired by the Navy, 28 October 1947, and placed in service with the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) as Mission San Francisco (AO-123)
  • Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 October 1949
  • Redesignated USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123)
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration, 18 January 1954, for lay up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 20 October 1956, and placed in service with MSTS, chartered to Mathiasens Tanker Industries, for operation
  • Lost due to collision with the Liberian freighter SS Elna II off New Castle, DE., on the Delaware River, 7 March 1957, bow section lost, stern section towed to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, declared unsalvageable by the Navy
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 20 March 1957
  • Stern section sold scrapping, 25 September 1957, to Boston Metals Co., for $116.666.66
    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
    Mission San Francisco
    091912305    		 114k
    Namesake
    Mission San Francisco de Asís (or Mission Dolores Basilica), is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco and the sixth religious settlement established as part of the California chain of missions. The Mission was founded on October 9, 1776, by Francisco Palóu (a companion of Junípero Serra) and Co-founder Fray Pedro Benito Cambón, both members of the de Anza Expedition, which had been charged with bringing Spanish settlers to Alta (upper) California and with evangelizing the local Natives, the Ohlone. Some of the Mission's buildings have been turned into businesses, including a print shop and several saloons. (Wikipedia)    		 Tommy Trampp
    Mission San Francisco 93k USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123) at anchor off Pusan Korea, 1951-52. Dr. Don Smith, Radio Electronics Officer USNS Mission San Francisco
    Mission San Francisco 64k USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123) at anchor, date and location unknown. Dr. Don Smith, Radio Electronics Officer USNS Mission San Francisco
    Mission San Francisco 38k USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123) under way, date and location unknown.
    Photo courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages.    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Fleet Tankers Association
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Fatal accident of the USNS Mission San Francisco (T-AO-123) courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages
    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 5 June 2015