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Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Waccamaw (T-AOT-109)
ex
USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109) (1975 - ?)
USS Waccamaw (AO-109) (1946 - 1975)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - November - Foxtrot
NHNF
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Casino (W)hiskey - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Bottom Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal


Cimmeron Class Fleet Oiler / Jumboized:
  • Laid down, 28 April 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2705), at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 20 March 1946
  • Commissioned USS Waccamaw (AO-109), 25 June 1946, CAPT. Guy W. Stringer, USN in command
  • USS Waccamaw was assigned to Occupation service in Europe for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    15 September 1948 to 7 January 1949
    16 January to 15 March 1950
    20 January to 8 May 1951
    29 July to 1 November 1952
    27 July to 8 August 1953
    16 May to 20 September 1954

  • Jumboized, 1964-65 at Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock Co., Seattle, WA.
  • During the Vietnam War USS Waccamaw participated in the following campaign:

    Vietnam War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Ceasefire
    8 to 9 and 17 to 26 July 1972
    4 to 13 August 1972
    21 August to 2 September 1972
    9 to 12 September 1972
    27 September to 2 October 1972
    9 to 13 and 22 to 28 October 1972
    5 to 12 November 1972
    26 November to 19 December 1972
    28 December 1972 to 5 January 1973

  • Decommissioned, 24 February 1975
  • Placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109) in 1975
  • Reclassified Oil Transporter (AOT-109), date unknown
  • Placed out of service, circa 1991
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 11 October 1991
  • USS Waccamaw earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service
  • Title transfer to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Sold for scrapping (date unknown) to International Shipbreaking Ltd., Brownsville, TX.
  • Withdrawn from the Maritime Administrations Reserve Fleet, 11 October 2005
  • Final Disposition, scrapped at Brownsville, TX.
    Specifications:
    Displacement
    As Build 7,423 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
    Jumboized 12,840 t.(lt) 34,350 t.(fl)
    Length
    As Built 553'
    Jumboized 644"
    Beam 75'
    Draft
    As Built 32'
    Jumboized 36'
    Speed 18.3 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 22
    Enlisted 282
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 16,500 DWT
    Oil 123,700 Bbls
    Gasoline 788,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity 15.000 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbines
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 450psi 740°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 500Kw 450V A.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 6,750shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Waccamaw (AO-109)
    Waccamaw
    091910938
    182k
    Namesake
    Waccamaw - The Waccamaw River is a river, approximately 140 miles long, in southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina. It drains an area of approximately 1,110 square miles in the coastal plain along the eastern border between the two states into the Atlantic Ocean. Along its upper course, it is a slow-moving, blackwater river surrounded by vast wetlands. Along its lower course, it is lined by sandy banks and old plantation houses, providing an important navigation channel with a unique geography, flowing roughly parallel to the coast. (Wikipedia)
    Photo - Bucksport, South Carolina, Quiet in winter, a busy stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway in spring and fall when boaters are moving north and south, 26 December 2006 ©Pollinator
    Map - Pee Dee River country and watershed. ©Karl Musser
    Tommy Trampp
    Waccamaw 10k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) rides light in the water at Philadelphia, PA. 16 July 1946. Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw
    091910942
    113k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) at anchor off Newport, R.I. 18 June 1949.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 66870
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw 34k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) under way in Grand Harbor Valletta, Malta, circa 1953. Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw 76k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy Photo, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw 80k USS Waccamaw (AO-109), off Newport R.I., 16 November 1954.
    © Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA. photo
    Bud Liptak
    Waccamaw 82k USS Waccamaw (AO-109), off Newport R.I., 16 November 1954.
    © Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA. photo
    Bud Liptak
    Cascade 1861k USS Cascade (AD-16) with USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697), USS Moale (DD-693) and USS Pompon (SSR-267) along side. Ships in the background in include left to right: USS Randolph (CVA-15), USS Waccamaw (AO-109), USS Mississinewa (AO-144) and two unidentified auxiliaries, an AO and possibly an AKA. At anchor in the Mediterranean, 12 September 1956.
    US Navy photo # 699217 now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.
    Darryl Baker
    Waccamaw 43k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) at anchor, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Waccamaw 54k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw 148k Waccamaw (AO-109) mid-body section during the jumboization process on the building ways at Kawasaki Dockyard Co. Ltd, Kobe, Japan ready for launching, 28 September 1963.
    US Navy photo
    Mike Green
    Waccamaw 106k USS Waccamaw (AO-109), in the Mediterranean Sea, 28 July 1966.
    Photo shows ship after jumboization
    © Richard Leonhardt
    Waccamaw 105k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) under way, circa 1966, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw 79k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) moored at Craney Island Fuel Terminal, Hampton Roads, VA., March 1967. Photo by Bill Guhl USS Waccamaw
    Waccamaw 54k "Mail Call" as a helicopter from HC-4 prepares to land on USS Waccamaw (AO-109)'s flight deck in 1967. Photo by Bill Guhl USS Waccamaw
    Waccamaw 1872k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) during an underway replenishment with USS Independence (CVA-62), Atlantic Ocean, circa 1969. Photos taken from USS Independence Photos by PH2 Harry B. Kidd USS Independence
    Waccamaw 1785k
    Waccamaw 96k
    Waccamaw 1857k
    Waccamaw 111k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) under way, date and location unknown. Photo taken after jumboization.
    US Navy photo
    Mike Smolinski
    Waccamaw 156k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw 189k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) under way in the Atlantic Ocean in 1970. Mike Smolinski
    Waccamaw 204k Stern view of USS Waccamaw (AO-109) underway in 1972, location unknown.
    Photo - courtesy Tom Sparkman.
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw
    091910940
    355k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Oriskany (CVA-34) 28 August 1972 in the South China Sea during Oriskany's 1972-73 WestPac deployment.
    Photos by Ron Camp USS Oriskany)
    Bob Canchola
    Waccamaw
    091910941
    1321k
    Waccamaw 79k USS Waccamaw (AO-109), after jumboization, April 1973, location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Bud Liptak
    Waccamaw 57k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy Photo, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw
    091910937
    110k USS Waccamaw (AO-109) ship's plaque. Tommy Trampp
    USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109)
    Waccamaw 1011k USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109) refueling USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) and USS Charleston (AKA-113) while enroute from Sicily to Nice, circa 1 February 1976. Photos by ©Richard Leonhardt
    Waccamaw 638k
    Waccamaw 43k USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109), under way in harbor with assistance of several tugs, date and location unknown.
    US Navy Photo, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw 78k USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109), under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy Photo, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages
    Robert Hurst
    Waccamaw
    091910939
    437k USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109), underway in 1984, location unknown.
    U.S. Defenseimagery.mil Photo # DN-SC-85-08550 A US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery
    Bob Canchola
    Waccamaw 95k USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109), under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Bud Liptak
    CV-43 Coral Sea 218k USS Coral Sea (CV-43) is refueled while underway by the fleet oiler USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109), Mediterranean Sea, 29 January 1986. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 13, tail code "AK," was aboard. A Knox-class frigate is steaming astern.
    US Navy photo by PH2 Rory Knepp.
    National Archives, via Ron Reeves
    Waccamaw 205k USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109), under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Tommy Trampp
    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.
     

    Additional Waccamaw Patches
    Waccamaw
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Waccamaw
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Waccamaw
    Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler


    For more photos and information about USS / USNS Waccamaw, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • MARAD Vessel History Database

  • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Stringer, Guy Warren, USN (USNA 1928)25 June 1946 - July 1947
    02CAPT. May, Leo George, USN (USNA 1930)July 1947 - September 1948
    03CAPT. Fitzwilliam, Albert Eisner, USN (USNA 1927)September 1948 - July 1949
    04CAPT. Hooper, Edwin Bickford, USN (USNA 1931) :VADMJuly 1949 - July 1950
    05CAPT. McCune, Francis Creath Brewer, USN (USNA 1927) :RADMJuly 1950 - September 1951
    06CDR. Palmer, Jay Talisman, USN (USNA 1935)September 1951 - November 1952
    07CAPT. Grider, John McGavock, USN (USNA 1932)November 1952 - September 1953
    08CAPT. Lyons Jr., Charles Malaher, USN (USNA 1932) :RADMSeptember 1953 - August 1954
    09CAPT. O'Connor, Michael Bernard, USN (USNA 1932)August 1954 - September 1955
    10CAPT. Schacht, Kenneth George, USN (USNA 1935)September 1955 - August 1956
    11CAPT. Dempsey, James Charles, USN (USNA 1931) :RADMAugust 1956 - July 1957
    12CAPT. Abhau, William Conrad, USN (USNA 1935) :RADMJuly 1957 - August 1958
    13CAPT. Henry, Thomas Henley, USN (USNA 1935)August 1958 - June 1959
    14CAPT. Leonard, John Albert, USN (USNA 1938)June 1959 - July 1960
    15CAPT. Elder, Robert Martin, USNJuly 1960 - July 1961
    16CAPT. Bell, David Bonar, USN (USNA 1937) :RADMJuly 1961 - 30 August 1962
    17CAPT. Huey, Enders Phillip, USN (USNA 1941)30 August 1962 - July 1963
    18CAPT. Green, David Hepburn, USN (USNA 1942)July 1963 - 2 March 1964
    19LT. Gluse, Michael Robert, USN (USNA 1956)2 March 1964 - 6 July 1964
    20LCDR. Gillette, Halbert George, USN6 July 1964 - 11 November 1964
    21CAPT. Baird, William Denise, USN11 November 1964 - 2 April 1966
    22CAPT. Clifford Jr., Frank Fenton, USN (USNA 1945)2 April 1966 - 26 May 1967
    23CAPT. De Prez, Richard John, USN (USNA 1944)26 May 1967 - September 1968
    24CAPT. Hart, Harry Sands, USNSeptember 1968 - 18 December 1969
    25CAPT. Macon Jr., Benjamin Harrison, USN18 December 1969 - April 1971
    26CAPT. Krejcarek, Donald James, USNApril 1971 - 13 November 1972
    27CDR. Banks, William Kenneth, USN (MMA 1956)13 November 1972 - 24 February 1975
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 2 September 2022