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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Paoli (T-AO-157)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa=Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal

Suamico Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 16 July 1944, as a Maritime Administration type (T-2-SE-A1) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1734) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA.

Launched, 31 October 1944

Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 30 November 1944, for operation by War Emergency Tankers, New York City, 11 November 1944, at Chester, PA.

Transferred to Sieling & Jarvis, 5 January 1946, at Newport News, VA.

Sold to Cities Service Oil Co., 14 January 1947, for $1,797,871.78

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 23 March 1955, at Beaumont, TX. for lay up

Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Administration in 1956

Accepted and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 2 December 1956

Placed in service as USNS Paoli (T-AO-157), 15 October 1956, operated by Marine Transport Lines Inc.

Returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and struck from the Naval Register, 2 October 1957

Transferred to Marine Navigation Sulphur Carriers Inc., 2 February 1966

Converted into a molten sulphur carrier at Baltimore, MD, renamed SS Marine Floridian

Renamed SS Belofin Floridian in 1997

Final Disposition, sold to Indian breakers for scrapping in 1997

Specifications:
Displacement 5,782 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
Length 523' 6"
Beam 68'
Draft 30'
Speed 15.5 kts.
Complement unknown
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
USNS Paoli (T-AO-157)
	62k	*USNS Paoli* (T-AO-157)** at anchor, date and location unknown. ©UK World Ship Society.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	82k	*USNS Paoli* (T-AO-157)** under way, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages
Merchant Service Marine Transportation Lines
	64k	Ex-*USS Paoli* (T-AO-157)** as Marine Transport Line's molten sulphur carrier SS Marine Floridian moored pierside at Port Arthur, TX. October 1984. Note the new foreship and the removed bridge.	Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	75k	Molten sulphur carrier SS Marine Floridian moored pierside at Port Arthur, TX. October 1984.	Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	127k	Molten sulphur carrier SS Marine Floridian and SS Marine Princess tied up, location unknown. Photo ©Marc Fiche.	Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages
	115k	Molten sulphur carrier SS Marine Floridian under way, date and location unknown. Photo ©David Boone.	Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages
	100k	Molten sulphur carrier SS Marine Floridian moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages
	59k	Molten sulphur carrier SS Marine Floridian under way, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages