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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Juliet - Uniform
NKJU
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Imperial (L)ima - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


SecNav Letter of Commendation
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada)


Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler / Jumboized:
  • Laid down, 30 November 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 2560), at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 2 June 1945
  • Commissioned USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98), 10 October 1945, CDR. H. R. Livingston, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 28 February 1990
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 18 July 1994
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 18 December 1998, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to Able UK, Hartlepool, Teeside, England, and removed from the Reserve Fleet, October 2003 under tow to the United Kingdom
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32'
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 22
    Enlisted 362
    Largest Boom Capacity 10t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity
    NSFO 123,700 Bbls
    Gasoline 788,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity 15,000 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Bethlehem geared turbines
    four Foster and Wheeler K-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    two turbo-drive 400Kw 230V A.C.
    one Diesel-drive 150Kw 230V A.C.
    twin propellers, 13,500shp
    Jumboized Specifications:
    Displacement 10,847 t.(lt) 34,750 t.(fl)
    Length 644"
    Draft 34' 9"
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Caloosahatchee 114k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) underway with the assistance of a Curtis Bay Towing tug, probably at her delivery at Sparrow's Point, MD., circa October 1945
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Caloosahatchee
    091909845
    109k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) underway, probably in Cheasepeake Bay during acceptance trials of soon after commissioning in October 1945 and a handwritten list of officers at commissioning. David Wright
    Caloosahatchee
    091909846
    207k
    Caloosahatchee 39k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way, in 1947, location unknown.
    Photo courtesy Mike Cotting collection.
    Robert Hurst
    Caloosahatchee 1137k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98), USS Leyte (CV-32), and USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823) conducting an underway replenishment during "Operation Frigid," 20 November 1948.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert M. Cieri
    Caloosahatchee 375k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) on her first tour of duty with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean in the late 1940's, refueling a Benson class destroyer.
    US Navy photo.
    Pieter B.Bakels
    Caloosahatchee 94k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) riding high after refueling ships of the Sixth Fleet. Nested alongside are USS Spikefish (SS-404) and USS Piper (SS-409).
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1955
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Caloosahatchee 103k USS Caloosahatchee (AP-98) refuels USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39) and a destroyer while a Piasecki HUP-2 "Retriever" Helicopter (Bureau # 128533), of Helicopter Utility Squadron Two (HU-2) lowers guard mail to the foredeck of USS Salem (CA-139), during operations in the Mediterranean Sea, 29 April 1957.
    US Navy photo # NH 97609 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    Caloosahatchee 91k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) refueling destroyers off both her port and starboard sides. USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) is visible to starboard of Caloosahatchee, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1958
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Caloosahatchee 47k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) at anchor, 20 July 1958, location unknown.
    Photo courtesy Lawrence Dalli.
    Robert Hurst
    Caloosahatchee 175k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) riding at anchor, circa 1959, location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Caloosahatchee 112k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) refueling USS Forrestal (CVA-59) to port while USS Salem (CA-139) moves into position to refuel from Caloosahatchee's starboard side, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1960
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Caloosahatchee 157k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way circa 1964.
    US Navy photo from the collection of SFC Walter Pegg.
    Tommy Trampp and David Merrill
    USS Canisteo (AO-99) Web Site
    Caloosahatchee 78k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) moored to a buoy, date and location unknown
    US Navy photo
    Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    CVA-42 F.D.Roosevelt 125k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) refueling USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) and USS Charles H. Roan (DD-853) in the Mediterranean, 1960. Image courtesy of Larry Blumenthal, "US Navy Photos"
    Caloosahatchee 151k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98), the fully assembled ship undocking, 6 August 1968, during her "Jumboization" conversion at Bethlehem Steel Co., Baltimore Yards. In a series of dockings and undockings, the stern was detached from the old midbody, 4 June 1968, and joined to the new midbody, 8 June, then the bow was detached from the old midbody on 16 July and joined to the new ship on the same day.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 85040, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Manley 128k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) conducting an underway replenishment with aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and destroyer USS Manley (DD-940), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photos.
    Ron Reeves
    Manley 66k
    Manley 61k
    Caloosahatchee 56k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    David Merrill
    USS Canisteo (AO-99) Web Site
    Caloosahatchee 96k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Caloosahatchee 1095k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) departing the port of Genoa, Italy, 26 April 1972. Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    William H. Standley 761k Aerial view of USS William H. Standley (CG-32) and USS Independence (CV 62) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) while in the Med, late 1976. Jeff Padell
    Caloosahatchee 366k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) in company with amphibious transport dock USS Shreveport (LPD-12) during Operation INTENSE LOOK, 1 August 1984.  
    Yosemite 798k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored pierside at Marseille, France, circa 1987-88, with USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) and USS Vreeland (FF-1068) alongside. Photo by Philippe Gonzales
    Caloosahatchee 287k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way alongside the the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) during an underway replenishment, 20 November 1986.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 263k
    Caloosahatchee 361k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way alongside the the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and the guided missile frigate USS Jack Williams (FFG-24), during an underway replenishment, 11 February 1987.
    US Navy photo
     
    Mount Baker 422k USS Mount Baker (AE-34) under way. The destroyer tender USS Yosemite (AD-19) and USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) are in the background, 12 March 1988.
    US Navy photo.
     
    Caloosahatchee 375k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) and USS King (DDG-41) under way, 5 June 1987, location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 266k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way 1 January 1988, location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 262k
    Caloosahatchee 192k Crew members stand by in the hanger bay of the the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) during an underway replenishment with USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98), 1 April 1988.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 350k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way 12 March 1988, location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 424k
    Caloosahatchee 250k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way alongside the the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) during an underway replenishment, 27 April 1988.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 375k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 287k Port quarter view of the fleet oiler USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) and the frigate USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092) during underway replenishment operations, 22 January 1990.
    US Navy photo
     
    Caloosahatchee 333k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) under way at Hampton Roads, VA., date unknown.
    Photo @copyAtlantic Fleet Sales and can be purchased from Atlantic Fleet Sales .
    Robert M. Cieri
    Caloosahatchee 326k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) conducting a simultaneous port and starboard underway replenishment, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Caloosahatchee 91k USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) drydocked, date and location unknown.
    Photo courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages.
    Robert Hurst
    Caloosahatchee 434k Aerial view of Unit 7 of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 28 January 1999. From bottom to top;
    unidentified,
    Santa Cruz
    Vulcan (AR-5),
    Redstone (T-AGM-20),
    2 unidentified APs,
    GEN. N.M. Walter (T-AP-125),
    GEN. Wm. O. Darby (IX-510),
    Waccamaw (T-AO-109),
    Canisteo (AO-99),
    Caloosahatchee (AO-98),
    Mississinewa (T-AO-144),
    Pawcatuck (T-AO-108),
    Truckee (T-AO-147),
    Neosho (T-AO-143),
    Benjamin Isherwood (T-AO-191) and
    Henry Eckford (T-AO-192). These two oilers were both lay-berthed incomplete.
     
    Caloosahatchee 47k Three views of ex-USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) being towed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA., en route to Hartlepool, England, for scrapping, October 2003.
    Photos from Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages.
    Robert Hurst
    Caloosahatchee 37k Ex-USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) at anchor, circa 2006, probably near Hartlepool, Teeside, England.
    Photo via the master tug Englishman. Courtesy Frans Sanderse Collection.
    Robert Hurst
    Caloosahatchee 45k "The Hartlepool Four" left to right;
    ex-USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98)
    ex-USS Canisteo (AO-99),
    ex-USS Canopus (AS-34), and
    ex-USS Compass Island (E-AG-153) awaiting the beginning of the end at Able UK, Hartlepool, Teeside, England, 4 March 2006. Scrapping is on hold due to environmental concerns.
    Photo by David Nixon
    Caloosahatchee 77k "The Hartlepool Four"
    ex-USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98)
    ex-USS Canisteo (AO-99),
    ex-USS Canopus (AS-34), and
    ex-USS Compass Island (E-AG-153) at Able UK, Hartlepool, Teeside, England, date unknown.
    Photo from geograph.org
    Robert Hurst

    Additional Ships Patches
    Caloosahatchee
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Caloosahatchee
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski


    For more photos and information about USS Caloosahatchee, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • MARAD Vessel History Database

  • Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Livingston, Harry Robert10 October 1945 - 1 March 1946
    02CAPT. Beck, Philip George, USN1 March 1946 - 19 April 1946
    03CAPT. Jacobs, Tyrrell Dwight19 April 1946 - 1 August 1947
    04CAPT. Nilon, Leo William, USN1 August 1947 - 14 October 1947
    05LT. Wheeler, R. E, USN (temporary)1 August 1947 - 14 October 1947
    06CDR. Holzappel, Oliver F., USNR (temporary)14 October 1947 - 2 November 1947
    07CAPT. Hood, Alexander Haldeman, USN2 November 1947 - 17 December 1948
    08CAPT. Gleim Jr., Fritz17 December 1948 - 20 November 1949
    09CAPT. Ford, Robert Stephens :RADM20 November 1949 - 9 February 1951
    10CAPT. Finney Jr., Earl Peck. USN (USNA 1932)9 February 1951 - 26 April 1952
    11CAPT. Baker Jr., Christopher Sylvanus :RADM26 April 1952 - 27 June 1953
    12CAPT. Mabley, Louis Christopher, USN (USNA 1926)27 June 1953 - 5 July 1953
    13CDR. Cleaves, Alfred S., USNR (XO acting)5 July 1953 - 21 July 1953
    14CAPT. Mabley, Louis Christopher, USN (USNA 1926)21 July 1953 - 14 July 1955
    15CAPT. Schnable, Alan George18 July 1954 - 14 July 1955
    16CAPT. Luosey, Michael Joseph14 July 1955 - 6 August 1956
    17CAPT. Presler, Irving Stahl6 August 1956 - 25 September 1957
    18CAPT. Dissette, Edward Farwell25 September 1957 - 4 October 1958
    19CAPT. Jackson, Robert Woods :RADM4 October 1958 - 30 July 1959
    20CAPT. Gilkeson, Fillmore Bolling :RADM22 August 1959 - 3 April 1960
    21CAPT. Leonard, William Nicholas (Bill) :RADM19 April 1960 - 21 May 1960
    22CAPT. McDowell, Joseph Matthew21 May 1960 - 13 September 1961
    23CAPT. Burgess, Andrew Lynn13 September 1961 - 14 August 1962
    24CAPT. Murphy Jr., Walter Patrick14 August 1962 - 26 July 1963
    25CAPT. Taylor, Robert Emerson26 July 1963 - 21 July 1964
    26CAPT. Woodward, Nelson Coates21 July 1964 - 6 August 1965
    27CAPT. Hawkins, Arthur Ray6 August 1965 - 23 April 1966
    28CAPT. Ford, John Ellsworth23 April 1966 - 4 August 1967
    29CAPT. Creamer, John James4 August 1967 - 8 May 1968
    30LCDR. Rankin, James Frederick8 May 1968 - 28 May 1969
    31CAPT. McFarland, Milton Clay, USN (USNA 1948-B)28 May 1969 - 22 December 1970
    32CAPT. Endacott, Jack Andrew22 December 1970 - 24 April 1972
    33CAPT. Goehring, Bernard Edward24 April 1972 - 8 September 1973
    34CAPT. Malloy, John Edward8 September 1973 - 1 August 1975
    35CAPT. Brown III, Thomas Francis :RADM1 August 1975 - 25 February 1977
    36CAPT. Flatley III, James Henry (Jim) :RADM25 February 1977 - 21 July 1978
    37CAPT. Dorsey Jr., James Francis (Yank) :VADM21 July 1978 - 14 December 1979
    38CAPT. Metz, Frederick J. :RADM14 December 1979 - 23 May 1981
    39CAPT. Lineberger, Preston Hearne23 May 1981 - 3 February 1982
    40CAPT. Metz, Frederick J. :RADM3 February 1982 - 29 August 1982
    41CAPT. Houston, Jerry Beaman (Devil)29 August 1982 - 19 July 1983
    42CAPT. Lair, James Anthony (Jim) :RADM19 July 1983 - 12 April 1985
    43CAPT. Hunt, Donald Bayard, USNR12 April 1985 - 12 November 1985
    44CAPT. Mitchell, Albert Hoyt12 November 1985 - 29 November 1985
    45CAPT. Thomassy Jr., Louis Edward (Tim)29 November 1985 - 21 August 1987
    46CAPT. Abbot, Charles Stevenson (Steve) :ADM21 August 1987 - 1 February 1989
    47CAPT. Lowe, Julian R.1 February 1989 - 1 February 1990
    48LCDR. Matthies, Frederick Thomas1 February 1990 - 28 February 1990
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Fleet Tankers Association
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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    Last Updated 31 December 2021