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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Muir Woods (T-AO-139)
ex
 Muir Woods (AO-139) (1948 - 1949)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Sierra - November
 NHSN

National Defense Service Medal

USNS Muir Woods (T-AO-139) was transferred to the Soviet Union prior to being acquired by the US Navy
Suamico Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 6 January 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-1A) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2411), at Kaiser Corp., Swan Island Yard, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 9 March 1945
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 22 March 1945, and turned over to the Soviet Union, named Elbrus
  • Returned to US custody, 20 February 1948, at Trieste, Italy
  • Placed in operation by Marine Transport Lines, 20 February 1948, at Trieste under a Maritime Commission General Agency Agreement
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission and acquired by the Navy, 23 April 1948 and placed in service by the Navy Transportation Service (NTS) as Muir Woods (AO-139)
  • Control transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) 1 October 1949, redesignated USNS Muir Woods (T-AO-139)
  • Placed out of service, struck from the Naval Register, and transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA., 10 June 1959
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 December 1975, to Luira Bros. and Co. Inc. (PD-X-1001 dated 17 October 1975) for $209,444.00
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,782 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
    Length 624'
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30'
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 52
    Armament none
    Cargo Capacity 140,000 barrels
    Propulsion turbo-electric, single screw. 8,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Muir Woods 851k Soviet merchant tanker Elbrus in port, possibly Trieste, Italy, circa February 1948. Elbrus was taken over by the US Navy Transportation Service (NTS) and renamed Muir Woods (AO-139 in April 1948.
    Photo by B. Nicol.    		 Chris Howell
    Muir Woods (AO-139)
    Muir Woods 500k Naval Transportation Service (NTS) tanker Muir Woods (AO-139) in dry dock at Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1949.
    US Navy photo from the files of Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.    		 Darryl Baker
    USNS Muir Woods (T-AO-139)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 13 April 2018