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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patch on left contributed by Don McGrogan BMCS USN (Ret.) - Popular Patch Patch at right contributed by Jon Strupp

USS Chiwawa (AO-68)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Juliet - Lima NYJL

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2)
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Chiwawa Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 26 February 1942, as SS Samoset, a Maritime Commission type (T3-S-A1) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 516) at Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding, Sparrows Point, MD.

Launched, 25 June 1942

Delivered to the Maritime Commission, acquired by the US Navy and commissioned USS Chiwawa (AO-68), 24 December 1942, CDR. Harold F. Fultz, in command

During World War II USS Chiwawa was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following actions/campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
Convoy UGS 6 , 12 to 18 March 1943	Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944

Following World War II USS Chiwawa was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 30 November 1945

Decommissioned, 6 May 1946

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 23 August 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Struck from the Naval Register. 25 September 1946

USS Chiwawa earned two battle stars for World War II service

Merchant Service

Sold by the Maritime Commission to Cities Service Oil Co., 23 June 1946, renamed SS Samoset

Resold, 1 February 1947, to American Ship Building Corp., Lorain, OH.

Rebuilt as a straight decked bulk freighter for Great Lakes service. renamed SS Chiwawa

Resold, 14 July 1961, to Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co, renamed SS Walter A. Sterling

Sold in 1985 to Ford Motor Company, renamed SS William Clay Ford (II)

Sold in 1989 to Interlakes Steamship Co.'s subsidiary Lakes Shipping Co., renamed SS Lee A. Tregurtha

Current Status, in service on the Great Lakes

AO Specifications:
Displacement 5,650 t.(lt) 22,030 t.(fl)
Length 501' 8"
Beam 68'
Draft 30' 8" (lim)
Speed 15.3 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 13

Enlisted 200

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

four twin 20mm AA gun mounts

Cargo Capacity 15,200 DWT

Oil 109,500 Bbls

Gasoline 738,000 Gals

Fuel Capacity NSFO 11,050 Bbls

Propulsion

one Bethlehem geared turbine

two Foster & Wheeler D-type boilers, 450psi 730°

double Falk Main Reduction Gears

two turbo-drive 300Kw 240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller. 7,000shp

Bulk Freighter Specifications:
Length 826'
Draft 39'
Cargo Capacity 29,300 tons
Self-unloading boom 250'

Propulsion

one steam turbine

single propeller, 7,700shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Chiwawa (AO-68)
	105k	*USS Chiwawa* (AO-68)** near the Norfolk Navy Yard, 31 January 1943. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-41898 or 41901 (estimated), a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
	119k	*USS Chiwawa* (AO-68)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages	Robert Hurst
	191k	*USS Chiwawa* (AO-68)** conducting an underway replenishment at sea in 1944.	David Buell
	210k
	212k
	299k	*USS Chiwawa* (AO-68)** under way, October 1944, location unknown. Photo by LTjg, Joseph A. Fernandez, Jr. USS Schmitt (APD-76)	Peter Fernandez
	299k	*USS Chiwawa* (AO-68)** at anchor, off Okinawa, 7 September 1945. US Navy photo.	Contributed on behalf of James M. Jupena MM1/c USS Chiwawa 1943-1946
	77k	*USS Chiwawa* (AO-68)** refueling USS LCI(L)-787, 24 October 1945. Photo by Donald Kronish	Jon Strupp
Merchant Service Cities Service Oil Co. Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. Lakes Shipping Co.
	35k	Ex-*USS Chiwawa* (AO-68)** under way while in merchant service as the Cities Service Oil Co. tanker SS Samoset Photo, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages	Robert Hurst
	52k		Robert Hurst
	40k	SS Walter A. Sterling under way as the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. straight line bulk freighter on the Great Lakes, date and location unknown. Photo courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages	Robert Hurst
	54k	Lakes Shipping Co. Great Lakes bulk freighter SS Lee A. Tregurtha under way, date and location unknown.	Great Lakes Fleet Photo Gallery
	49k	Lakes Shipping Co. Great Lakes bulk freighter SS Lee A. Tregurtha entering Lake Huron, 22 July 2007. Photo courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages	Robert Hurst
	49k	SS Lee A. Tregurtha heading down the Rouge River, 22 July 2007. Photo courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages	Robert Hurst
	132k	SS Lee A. Tregurtha leaving the upper harbor at Marquette, Michigan after loading iron ore, 3 July 2011. Photo taken by Steven Fine	Robert Hurst
	65k	SS Lee A. Tregurtha under way on the Great Lakes, date and location unknown. Photo courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages	Robert Hurst
	642k	SS Lee A. Tregurtha under way off Marine City, in the St. Clair River MI., 17 June 2018.	Photo by Jon A. Ottman

USS Chiwawa (AO-68)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Fultz, Harold Farnham, USN	24 December 1942 - 9 July 1943
02	LCDR. Goza, John Perry, USNR	9 July 1943 - 16 June 1945
03	CAPT. Block, Albert Frederick	16 June 1945 - 6 May 1946


Courtesy Jon Strupp, Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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
Great Lakes Fleet Photo Gallery

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 24 May 2019