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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Petrolite (T-AO-164)

Suamico Class Fleet Oiler
  • Laid down, 12 October 1943, as SS Hanging Rock, a Maritime Administration type (T-2-SE-A1) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1723) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 31 January 1944
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 28 March 1944
  • Transferred to War Emergency Tanker (Texas Co. agents) under a General Agency Agreement, 31 January 1944
  • Sold to Bernuth, Lemboke Co.,Inc. (Tanker Sag Harbor Corp.) under a General Agency Agreement, 14 November 1945 for $1,750,008.20, renamed SS Petrolite
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration (trade-in),17 December 1946
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Administration and placed in service as USNS Petrolite (T-AO-164), 28 January 1957
  • Returned to MARAD and struck from the Naval Register, 5 September 1957
  • Title passed to Sea-Land Services, Inc,, converted to a containership
  • Sold to Litton Industries Leasing Corp, 5 January 1970, renamed SS Seattle
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 19 October 1984
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,782 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30'
    Speed 15.5kts
    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
    Petroline 24k SS Petrolite under way circa 1946-54, location unknown. Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages
    Petrolite 73k SS Seattle under way, date and, location unknown. Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages
    Petrolite 116k
    USNS Petrolite (T-AO-164)
    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 Data Base
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 1 October 2015