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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AOG-55 Nespelen

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Zulu - Tango
 NCZT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (6-Cuba) - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Antarctic Service Medal (4) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba)
Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker:
  • Laid down, 28 August 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (T1-MT-M1) tanker hull, under a Maritime Commission contract, at Cargill, Inc., Savage, MN.
  • Launched, 10 April 1945
  • Commissioned USS Nespelen (AOG-55), 9 August 1945, at Naval Repair Base, Algiers, LA., LT. Thomas W. Purcell, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 1 July 1975, at Navel Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia
  • Laid up in the Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1975
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal; sold by MARAD, 24 March 1976
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to Union Minerals & Alloys in March, 1976
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,850 t.(lt) 4,335 t.(fl)
    Length 310' 9"
    Beam 48' 6"
    Draft 15' 8"
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement 124
    Armament
    four 3"/50 dual purpose guns
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 2,210 DWT
    Propulsion four 980 hp GE diesel engines, electric drive, twin shafts, 3,300shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Nespelen 48k Nespelen (AOG-55) underway, circa March 1955 Photo by Larry Bohn
    Nespelen 92k Nespelen (AOG-55) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Nespelen 52k Nespelen (AOG-55) at anchor, Dockyard Creek, Malta in March 1970. Photo by Anthony Vella
    Nespelen 157k Nespelen (AOG-55) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Nespelen 47k Nespelen (AOG-55) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Nespelen 144k Nespelen (AOG-55) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Nespelen 144k Nespelen (AOG-55) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    View the Nespelen (AOG-55)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    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 Tankers
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Gasoline Tanker (AOG) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 25 August 2006