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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS American Explorer (T-AOT-165)
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 USNS American Explorer (T-AO-165) (1959 - 1978)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Uniform - Golf
 NTUG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
American Explorer Class Oil Transporter:
  • Laid down, 9 July 1957, as a Maritime Administration type (T-5-S-RM2a) tanker hull, under MARAD contract (MA 53) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc,, Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 11 April 1958
  • Delivered to the Maritime Administration and turned over to the US Navy, 27 October 1959
  • Placed in service with MSC as USNS American Explorer (T-AO-165) to be operated under contract by a civilian firm
  • Reclassified as Oil Transporter (AOT-165) in September 1978
  • Placed out of service in September 1984, and returned to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont TX.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrap to Southern Scrap Material LLC, New Orleans, LA for $1,052,788, announced by MARAD 16 July 2008.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,402 t.(lt) 31,300 t.(fl)
    Length 615'
    Beam 80'
    Draft 35' (max.)
    Speed 20+kts.
    Complement 47
    Armament none
    Propulsion two boilers, one steam turbine, single shaft
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    American Explorer 58k USNS American Explorer (T-AOT-165) was launched as the world's first nuclear tanker-to-be, but was completed with a conventional steam plant."
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    American Explorer 61k USNS American Explorer (T-AOT-165) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1960     		Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    American Explorer 56k USNS American Explorer (T-AOT-165) transiting the Panama Canal, date unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Maritime Administration
    USNS American Explorer (T-AO-165 / T-AOT-165)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    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
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index Back To The Oil Transporter (AOT) 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 December 2014