Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.


NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Derrick (YO-59)


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service medal (with Asia clasp)



Derrick (YO-59) was transferred to South Korea

YO-55 Class Fuel Oil Barge (Non-self-propelled):
  • Built by RTC Shipbuilding Co., Camden, NJ (YN 142)
  • Laid down, 15 June 1942
  • Launched, 21 November 1942
  • Commissioned USS Derrick (YO-59), 02 February 1943, LT William W. Morphew, USNR, commanding
  • During World War II Derrick was assigned to Service Forces, Pacific Fleet
  • Mostly operated in New Guinea waters, 1943 - 1945
  • Postwar operated in Chinese waters, based at Shanghai, October 1945 - 1946
  • Decommissioned and placed in service, 17 June 1947
  • Assigned to the 14th Naval District, June 1949
  • Reallocated to Commander, Service Forces Pacific
  • Participated in operation "Passport to Freedom," 09 September to 19 November 1954
  • Placed out of service and leased to the Republic of Korea, 05 October 1955
  • Commisioned in Republic of Korean Navy as ROKS Baegyeon [백연] (YO-5), 14 October 1955
  • Renamed Hwacheon [화천], 06 December 1955
  • Renumbered AO-5, 1973
  • Renumbered AO-52, June 1978
  • Sold outright to South Korea, July 1975
  • Decommissioned, 30 July 1980
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 393 tons
    Length 235' 0"
    Beam 37'
    Draft 15'
    Speed 10 knots
    Cargo Capacity 10,000 gallons
    Complement unknown
    Armament none
    Propulsion diesel

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    YO-59
    141205901
    74k Derrick (YO-59), location unknown, 1944.
    Australian War Memorial photo AWM302583
    John Chiquoine


    Commanding Officers
    01LT William Washington Morphew, D-V(G) USNR02 February 1943 - ????
    02LT William G. Brown, D-V(G) USNR(March 1944)
    03LT Bruce Irwin Ifft, D-V(G) USNR(September 1944)
    04LT(jg) Robert Stott Herrmann, D-V(G) USNR(March 1945)
    05LT Robert Louis Royal, USN(July 1945)
    06LT(jg) Samuel Wade Secrest, USNR(January 1946)
    07LT Zaven Mukhalian, USNR(July 1946)
    07ENS Robert Harold Lillevick, D-V(G) USNR(October 1946)

    View the Derrick (YO-59)
    DANFS entry located at the Naval History & Heritage Command website
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Yard and District Craft Photo Index Back To The Fuel Oil Barge (Self-propelled) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 09 December 2022