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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AOG-50 Chewaucan

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Whiskey - Yankee

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

USS Chewaucan (AOG-50) was transferred to Colombia and renamed ARC Tumaco (BT-7)

Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker:

Laid down (date unknown) at Cargill Inc., Savage, MN.

Launched, 22 July 1944

Commissioned USS Chewaucan (AOG-50), 19 February 1945, Lieutenant J. M. Price, USNR, in command

Decommissioned (date unknown)

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1975

Sold under the Security Assistance Program to Colombia, 1 January 1976, renamed ARC Tumaco (BT-7)

Final Disposition, fate unknown

"1953 through 1957, the Complement varied from 136 to 68. Top speed on full power run was just over 16 kts. and full load draft was considered to be 16'-6" although seldom loaded deeper than 15'10" fwd and 16'-2" aft. The optical range finder, originally mounted on the flying bridge, has been moved to just forward of the stack so that a new gun director could be mounted in the forward location. When traveling with a full cargo there was only 30" of freeboard at the after end of the tank deck. (36" at the forward end). In rough seas, even a slight roll would bring water aboard which would run aft at whatever speed Chewaucan was traveling and smash into the poop deck bulkhead. The only passage between fore and aft. in rough weather was the catwalk which was 4 feet above the expansion trunk which in turn was 4 feet above the main deck. It was considered great sport to stand at the forward end at the 01 level, where it was totally dry, and make bets as to who would get soaked in the process of traversing the catwalk." (Partial quote by Larry Bohn)

Specifications:
Displacement 1,850 t.(lt) 4,570 t.(fl)
Length 310' 9"
Beam 48' 6"
Draft 15' 8"
Speed 15.5 kts.
Complement 124 to 68
Armament

As Built

four 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

twelve 20mm AA gun mounts

Modified

three single 3:/50 gun mounts
Cargo Capacity 2,210 DWT
Propulsion four 980 hp GE diesel engines, electric drive, twin shafts, 3,300shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
43k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage scheme is measure 32 design 3D. US Naval Institute photo.	Submitted by Brad Barker for his father Donald Barker USS Chewaucan
57k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) at Suda Bay, Crete, April 1952	Photo by Larry Bohn USS Chewaucan 1953-57
96k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) conducting an UNREP, in the Mediterranean Sea, 1952. Photo by Donald Barker.	Submitted by Brad Barker for his father Donald Barker USS Chewaucan
65k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) and Newport News (CA-148) at anchor in the Mediterranean Sea, circa 1952. Photo by Donald Barker.	Submitted by Brad Barker for his father Donald Barker USS Chewaucan
81k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) refueling from Elokomin (AO-55) somewhere in the Atlantic, circa 1952. Photo by Donald Barker.	Submitted by Brad Barker for his father Donald Barker USS Chewaucan
73k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) in the vicinity of Sardinia, fall 1968	Photo by Jerry Search
84k	Guavina (AGSS-362) alongside Chewaucan (AOG-50) while taking on AVGAS, Suda Bay Crete, December 1956.	Photo by Larry Bohn USS Chewaucan 1953-57
51k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) underway, date and location unknown.	Paul Gryniewicz Courtesy Larry Sullivan
236k	Chewaucan (AOG-50) and a steering tug transiting the Corinth Canal in Greece, circa 1972-74.	J. MacMichael USS Chewaucan 1972-74

View the Chewaucan (AOG-50)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Avgas MoGas and Jet Fuel - The Story of the Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

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Last Updated 25 August 2006