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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-92 / AW-4 Abatan

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Sierra - Alpha
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Pasig Class Distilling Ship:
  • Laid down, 9 June 1944, as SS Mission San Lorenzo, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 1827) at Martinship Corp, Sausalito, CA.
  • Renamed Abatan and designated (AO-92), 25 July 1944
  • Launched, 6 August 1944
  • Redesigned as a Distilling Ship, 24 August 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy, 28 November 1944
  • Converted for Naval Service at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Commissioned USS Abatan (AW-4), 29 January 1945, LCDR. E. Norman Eriksen in command
  • Decommissioned, 27 January 1947
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960
  • Transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Reacquired and reinstated in the Naval Register, 27 September 1962, for use as a backup fresh water ship at Naval Base, Guantanemo Bay, Cuba
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1970, but retained at Guantanemo Bay
  • Final Disposition, destroyed as a target 1 March 1980
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,640 t.(lt) 23,350 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 10"
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement 265
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion turbo-electric, twin screws, 3,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed By
    /Source
    Abatan 112k Stern view of Abatan (AW-4) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island on 23 Jan 1945. Other ships in the photo are New Orleans (CA-32) (You can only see her funnels) in dry dock #2 to right of Abatan and ARD-32 with Cod (SS-224) in her dock. ARD-32 is on the quay wall to the far right.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 610-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    Abatan 108k The crew of Abatan (AW-4) at quarters during her commissioning ceremonies at Mare Island, 29 Jan 1945.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 691-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    Abatan 103k Abatan (AW-4) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 18 February 1945. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO. from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 96k Abatan (AW-4) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 18 February 1945. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO. from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 82k Abatan (AW-4) bow on view off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 18 February 1945. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO. from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 97k Abatan (AW-4) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 18 February 1945. The harbor tug Nepanet (YTB-189) is alongside. Abatan's camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO.
    from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 113k Abatan (AW-4) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 20 February 1945. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO.
    from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 97k View of Abatan (AW-4)'s aft section while at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 20 February 1945. Abatan is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32, Design 7AO.
    from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 145k Plan view of Abatan (AW-4) looking forward from the midships' superstructure, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 20 February 1945. Note hoses stowed by the centerline catwalk, and booms attached to the foremast.
    from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 128k Plan view of Abatan (AW-4) looking forward toward the midships' superstructure, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 20 February 1945. Note hoses stowed by the centerline catwalk, and booms attached to the foremast.
    from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 167k Plan view of Abatan (AW-4) looking aft from amidships, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 20 February 1945. Note hoses stowed by the centerline catwalk, and booms attached to the foremast.
    from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 78k Abatan (AW-4) anchored at Ulithi, circa, 21 March 1945 to mid-September 1945. Note LCT-928 and an unidentified LCT secured to Abatan's her port side
    US Navy photo from DANFS. She wears camouflage Measure 32, Design 7AO.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Abatan 31k Abatan (AW-4) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Abatan 76k Abatan (AW-4) at Guantanemo Bay, Cuba, circa 1970s © Richard Leonhardt
    Abatan 76k Abatan (AW-4), at Guantanemo Bay, Cuba, circa 1970s © Richard Leonhardt
    Abatan 86k Abatan (AW-4) at US Naval Base, Guantanemo Bay, Cuba, circa 1964, while serving as water storage and desalinization ship there. Abatan is serving in non-commissioned status, with her guns and other equipment still "mothballed" under covers. Photo released for publication prior to 7 April 1964.
    US Navy photo # NH 98915 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 102k Abatan (AW-4) pierside at US Naval Base, Guantanemo Bay, Cuba, 2 March 1964, while she was serving as water storage and desalinization ship there. The original caption states "The ship produces about two million gallons of fresh water daily.".
    US Navy photo # NH 98916 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 84k Abatan (AW-4) pierside at US Naval Base, Guantanemo Bay, Cuba. Navy self-propelled water barge YW-85 is under tow from Guantanamo Bay, to Ocho Rios for water, 2 March 1964.
    US Navy photo # NH 98917 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 89k Abatan (AW-4) moored at US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where she serves as water and fuel storage hulk, 12 June 1978.
    US Navy photo # KN-26984 (Color) from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Abatan 89k Aerial view of Abatan (AW-4) moored at US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba off the Officer's Club ("Como Club") at Deer Point, 28 June 1979. US Navy photo # NH 98920 by PH1 Leonard L. Sallions USN, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. US Naval Historical Center
    View the Abatan (AW-4)
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 20 July 2007