Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945

AO -- Fleet Oilers

Click on "AO-##" for link to page with specifications, history, photographs (where available).

Additional Resources

Worral Reed Carter, Beans, Bullets, and Black Oil
Worral, Reed Carter and Elmer Ellsworth Duvall, Ships, Salvage and the Sinews of War: The Story of Fleet Logistics Afloat in Atlantic and Mediterranean Waters During World War II
Thomas Wildenberg, Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy, 1912-1992

Notes:
Displacement is given as fully loaded
Length is given as total length
Beam
Draft is given as fully loaded
Speed is given both as (max): when keeping up with Task Forces and as (econ): the economical speed giving the maximum cruising range
Armament notation includes implicit configurations: "4x2 20mm" implies "4 20mm guns, dual mount" = 8 barrels
Complement of officers and enlisted. This is considerably in excess of the crew numbers for a commercial tanker of similar size: the extra crew is needed on a Naval vessel to handle at-sea refueling, battle stations, damage control, communications, etc.
Capacity in barrels. In addition to bunker fuel for ships, the Fleet Oilers carried gasoline for ships' boats, aviation fuel, lubricants, and other POL products. As the war progressed, the Oilers increasingly carried additional dry cargo and stores, reducing the need for ships to make multiple rendezvous for underway replenishment
Engineering: total horsepower is given -- "12,000 hp" with twin screws equals 6,000 hp per shaft

Kanawha/Cuyama Class:

Displacement: 14,500 tons
Length: 476'
Beam: 56'
Draft: 28'
Speed: 12 knots (max); 9 knots (econ)
Armament: 2 5"/38 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 475
Capacity: 55,700 barrels
Reciprocating engines, twin screws, 10,400 hp

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-4 Brazos 1919 5723

AO-3 Cuyama 1917 5946

AO-1 Kanawha 1915 5950 ;7 Apr 43; air atack off Guadalcanal

AO-2 Maumee 1915
1945 4990
Reclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary AG-124

AO-5 Neches 1920 5723 ;23 Jan 42; torpedoed by IJN sub off Hawaii

AO-6 Pecos 1921 5000 1 Mar 42; air attack south of Java

Patoka/Sapelo Class:

Displacement: 16,800 tons
Length: 478'
Beam: 60'
Draft: 29'
Speed: 10 knots (max); 9.5 knots (econ)
Armament: 2 5"/38 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement:
Capacity: 70,000 barrels
Reciprocating (#13 geared turbine) engines, single screw, 2,800 hp

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-9 Patoka 1919
1945 5375
Reclassified as Miscellaneous Auxiliary AG-125

AO-12 Ramapo 1919 5422

AO-18 Rapidan 1922 5422

AO-19 Salinas 1921 5422

AO-11 Sapelo 1920 5422

AO-20 Sepulga 1922 5422

AO-21 Tippecanoe 1922 5422

AO-13 Trinity 1920 5263

Kaweah/Alameda Class:

Displacement: 14,500 tons
Length: 446'
Beam: 58'
Draft: 27'6"
Speed: 10.5 knots (max); 10 knots (econ)
Armament: 2 5"/38 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 107
Capacity:
Reciprocating engines, single screw, 2,800 hp.

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-15 Kaweah 1921 5450

AO-16 Laramie 1921 5450

AO-17 Mattole 1940 5450

Cimarron/List 1 Class:

Displacement: 24,830 tons
Length: 553'
Beam: 75'
Draft: 32'
Speed: 18 knots
Armament: 4 5"/38 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement:
Capacity: 146,000 barrels
Geared turbines engines, twin screws, 30,400 hp
Maritime Commission T3-S2-A1 type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-30 Chemung 1941 7256

AO-31 Chenango 1941
1942 7256
Converted to Escort Carrier CVE-28

AO-22 Cimarron 1939 7256

AO-32 Guadalupe 1941 7256

AO-27 Kaskaskia 1940 7256

AO-23 Neosho 1941 6521
7 May 42; air attack at Battle of Coral Sea

AO-24 Platte 1939 7256

AO-25 Sabine 1940 7256

AO-26 Salamonie 1941 7256

AO-28 Sangamon 1940
1942 7256
Converted to Escort Carrier CVE-26

AO-29 Santee 1940
1942 7256
Converted to Escort Carrier >CVE-29

AO-33 Suwannee 1941
1942 7256
Converted to Escort Carrier CVE-27

Chicopee Class:

Displacement: 21,800 tons
Length: 520'
Beam: 68'
Draft: 30'
Speed: 16.5 knots (max); 15 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 287
Capacity: 131,600 barrels
Geared turbine engines, single screw, 9,000 hp

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-34 Chicopee 1942 5375

AO-35 Housatonic 1942 5375

Kennebec Class:

Displacement: 21,077 tons
Length: 502'
Beam: 58'
Draft: 31'
Speed: 17 knots (max); 13 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 243
Capacity: 134,000 barrels
Geared turbine engines, single screw, 12,000 hp
Maritime Commission T2 (MC-SO) type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-39 Kankakee 1942 6013

AO-36 Kennebec 1942 6013

AO-40 Lackawanna 1942 5580

AO-37 Merrimack 1942 6013

AO-48 Neosho 1942 5580

AO-38 Winooski 1941 5580

Mattaponi Class:

Displacement: 21,750 tons
Length: 520'
Beam: 68'
Draft: 30'6"
Speed: 17 knots (max); 10.5 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 242
Capacity: 135,000 barrels
Geared turbine engines, single screw, 12,800 hp
Maritime Commission T2-A (MC-K)type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-41 Mattaponi 1942 5882

AO-42 Monongahela 1942 5882

AO-47 Neches 1942 5882

AO-44 Patuxent 1942 6258

AO-43 Tappahannock 1942 5882

Big Horn Class:

Displacement:
Length:
Beam:
Draft:
Speed:
Armament:
Complement:
Capacity:

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-45 Big Horn 1942
1944 4150
Transferred to Coast Guard as WIX-207

Victoria Class:

Displacement: 15,230 tons
Length: 453'
Beam: 56'
Draft: 28'
Speed: 10.2 knots (max); 9 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 2x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement:
Capacity: 78,000 barrels
Reciprocating engines, single screw, 32,000 hp

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-46 Victoria 1942 4650

Suamico/Pecos Class:

Displacement: 21,880 tons
Length: 523'6"
Beam: 68'
Draft: 30'
Speed: 15.5 knots (max); 13 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 251
Capacity: 140,000 barrels
Turbo-electric engines, single screw, 8,000 hp
Maritime Commission T2-SE-A1 type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-67 Cache 1942 5730

AO-78 Chepachet 1943 5730

AO-77 Cossatot 1943 5730

AO-79 Cowanesque 1943 5730

AO-73 Millicoma 1943 5730

AO-65 Pecos 1942 5730

AO-74 Saranac 1943 5730

AO-75 Saugatuck 1943 5730

AO-76 Schuylkill 1943 5730

AO-49 Suamico 1942 5730

AO-50 Tallulah 1942 5730

Ashtabula/Cimarron-List 2 Class:

Displacement: 25,440 tons
Length: 553'
Beam: 75'
Draft: 32'
Speed: 18 knots
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 314
Capacity: 146,000 barrels
Geared turbine engines, twin screws, 30,400 hp
Maritime Commission T3-S2-A3 type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-97 Allagash 1945 5730

AO-51 Ashtabula 1943 7236

AO-56 Aucilla 1943 7236

AO-52 Cacapon 1943 7236

AO-53 Caliente 1943 7236

AO-54 Chikaskia 1943 7236

AO-63 Chipola 1944 7236

AO-55 Elokomin 1943 7236

AO-58 Manatee 1944 7236

AO-57 Marias 1944 7236

AO-59 Mississinewa 1943 7190 20 Nov 44; torpedoed by IJN sub at Ulithi

AO-60 Nantahala 1944 7236

AO-61 Severn 1944 7236

AO-62 Taluga 1944 7236

AO-64 Tolovana 1945 7236

Atascosa Class:

Displacement: 24,110 tons
Length: 547'
Beam: 71'
Draft: 32'
Speed: 15 knots (max); 12.5 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement:
Capacity: 156,000 barrels
Geared turbine engines, single screw, 8,200 hp

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-66 Atascosa 1942 6043

Chiwawa Class:

Displacement: 21,077 tons
Length: 502'
Beam: 68'
Draft: 31'
Speed: 17 knots (max); 13 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement:
Capacity: 134,000 barrels
Geared turbine engines, single screw, 12,000 hp
Maritime Commission T3-S-A1 type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-68 Chiwawa 1942 5650

AO-69 Enoree 1943 5708

AO-70 Escalante 1943 5630

AO-71 Neshanic 1943 5630

AO-72 Niobrara 1943 5708

Escambia Class:

Displacement: 21,880 tons
Length: 523'6"
Beam: 68'
Draft: 30'
Speed: 15.5 knots (max); 13 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 267
Capacity: 140,000 barrels
Turbo-electric engines, single screw, 8,000 hp
Maritime Commission T2-SE-A2type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-94 Anacostia 1945 5730

AO-82 Cahaba 1944 5730

AO-95 Caney 1945 5730

AO-80 Escambia 1943 5730

AO-81 Kennebago 1943 5730

AO-83 Mascoma 1944 5730

AO-84 Oklawaha 1943 5730

AO-85 Pamanset 1943 5730

AO-89 Pasig 1943 9783 Decommissioned before the end of the War

AO-86 Ponaganset 1944 5730

AO-87 Sebec 1944 5730

AO-90 Shikellamy 1943
1943 3200
Converted to Gasoline Tanker AOG-47

AO-93 Soubarissen 1945 5730

AO-96 Tamalpais 1945 5730

AO-88 Tomahawk 1944 5730

Cohocton Class:

Displacement: 21,880 tons
Length: 523'6"
Beam: 68'
Draft: 30'
Speed: 15.5 knots (max); 13 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 4 3"/50 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement:
Capacity: 140,000 barrels
Turbo-electric engines, single screw, 8,000 hp
Maritime Commission T2-SE-A2type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AO-101 Cohocton 1945 5730

AOG -- Gasoline Tankers

Click on "AOG-##" for link to page with specifications, history, photographs (where available).

Patapsco Class:

Displacement: 4,130 tons
Length: 311'
Beam: 49'
Draft: 14'6"
Speed: 15.5 knots (max); 8.8 knots (econ)
Armament: 4 3"/50 DP; 12 20 mm
Complement: 124
Capacity: Cargo DWT 2,120
Diesel electric engines, twin screws, 3,300 hp

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AOG-6 Agawam 1943 1783

AOG-48 Chehalis 1944 1764

AOG-49 Chestatee 1944 1842

AOG-50 Chewaucan 1944 1842

AOG-7 Elkhorn 1944 1783

AOG-8 Genesee 1944 1783

AOG-2 Kern 1943 1842

AOG-9 Kishwaukee 1944 1783

AOG-51 Maquoketa 1945 1842

AOG-52 Mattabesset 1945 1842

AOG-53 Namakagon 1945 1764

AOG-54 Natchaug 1945 1764

AOG-10 Nemasket 1944 1783

AOG-55 Nespelen 1945 1764

AOG-56 Noxubee 1945 1764

AOG-1 Patapsco 1943 1841

AOG-3 Rio Grande 1943 1841

AOG-5 Susquehanna 1943 1842

AOG-11 Tombigbee 1944 1783

AOG-4 Wabash 1943 1842

Halawa Class:

Displacement: 2,000-7,000 tons (full load)
Length: 200'-300'
Beam: 40-50'
Draft: 13'-20'
Speed: 8-10 knots
Armament: 1 3"/50 DP; 2-4 20mm
Complement: ~100
Capacity: 12,000-40,000 barrels
Converted from small coastal tankers.

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AOG-14 Aroostook 1943
1945 1007
Lend-Lease to France as Lac Pavin

AOG-15 Conasauga 1943 3100 Lend-Lease to France

AOG-16 Guyandot 1943 800 Lend-Lease to France

AOG-12 Halawa 1942 1155

AOG-13 Kaloli 1942 1155

Mettawee Class:

Displacement: 2,280 tons (full load)
Length: 221'
Beam: 37'
Draft: 14'
Speed: 9.5 knots (max); 8.5 (econ)
Armament: 1 3"/50 DP; 2 40mm; 3 20mm
Complement: 58
Capacity: Cargo DWT 1,228
Diesel engines, single screw, 720 hp
Maritime Commission T1-M-A1type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AOG-23 Ammonusuc 1944 845

AOG-25 Calamus 1944 845

AOG-26 Chiwaukum 1944 846

AOG-62 Conemaugh 1945 850

AOG-27 Escatawpa 1944 846

AOG-28 Gualala 1944 846

AOG-29 Hiwassee 1944 846

AOG-30 Kalamazoo 1944 846

AOG-31 Kanawha 1944 846

AOG-63 Klaskanine 1945 850

AOG-60 Manokin 1944 850

AOG-17 Mettawee 1943 769

AOG-32 Narraguagas 1944 846

AOG-33 Ochlockonee 1944 846

AOG-34 Oconee 1945 846

AOG-35 Ogeechee 1944 846

AOG-36 Ontonagon 1944 846

AOG-18 Pasquotank 1943 769

AOG-38 Ponchatoula 1944 846

AOG-39 Quastinet 1944 646

AOG-40 Sacandaga 1944 846

AOG-19 Sakatonchee 1944 769

AOG-61 Sakonnet 1944 850

AOG-20 Seekonk 1944 769

AOG-21 Sequatchie 1944 846

AOG-24 Sheepscot 1944 846

AOG-41 Tetonkaha 1944 846

AOG-42 Towaliga 1944 846

AOG-43 Tularosa 1945 846

AOG-44 Wakulla 1945 846

AOG-46 Waupaca 1945 846

AOG-22 Wautauga 1944 846

AOG-45 Yacona 1945 846

AOG-37 Yahara 1944 846

Klickitat Class:

Displacement: 5,940 tons (full load)
Length: 325'
Beam: 48'
Draft: 19'
Speed: 11 knots (max); 10 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 3"/50 DP; 2 40 mm; 8 20mm
Complement: 80
Capacity:
Diesel engines, single screw, 1,400 hp
Maritime Commission T1-M-BT1type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AOG-73 Kiamichi 1945 1988

AOG-64 Klickitat 1945 1988

AOG-65 Michigamme 1945 1988

AOG-66 Nanticoke 1945 1988

AOG-67 Nordaway 1945 1988

AOG-68 Peconic 1945 1988

AOG-69 Petaluma 1945 1988

AOG-70 Piscataqua 1945 1988

AOG-71 Quinnebaug 1945 1988

AOG-72 Sebasticook 1945 1988

AOG-74 Tellico 1945 1988

AOG-75 Truckee 1945 1988

Shikellamy Class:

Displacement: 6,045 tons (full load)
Length: 523'6"
Beam: 53'
Draft: 25'
Speed: 11 knots (max); 9 knots (econ)
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 2x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 267
Capacity: 51,300 barrels
Turbo-electric engines, single screw, 8,000 hp
Maritime Commission T2-SE-A2type

No. Name Comm. Disp. Notes (: Lost)

AOG-47 Shikellamy 1943 3200 Converted from Fleet Oiler AO-90

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Last updated: 1 September 2002