USS Saugatuck (AO-75)

The U.S.S. Saugatuck was Laid down on 20 August 1942, as SS Newtown as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A1) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 355) at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock in Chester, PA. She was Renamed Saugatuck on 16 September 1942

She was Launched on December 7, 1942 and was delivered to the U.S. NavyThe Saugatuck was Converted for Naval service at Bethlehem Steel Co., Key Highway Plant, Baltimore, MD.

She was commissioned USS Saugatuck (AO-75), 19 February 1943 with Lt. Comdr. Ben Koerner, USNR, in command.

Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Saugatuck departed Norfolk for the Netherlands West Indies and the Panama Canal. On 30 April, she transited the canal; and, the next day, headed for the South Pacific. Diverted en route, she was ordered first to Pearl Harbor, thence to San Pedro, Calif. During the summer and fall, she carried fuels and lubricants to Espiritu Santo and Funafuti. In December, she assumed duties as station oiler at Espiritu Santo. Late in January 1944, she put to sea to rendezvous with, and refuel, fleet units engaged in the Marshalls' campaign; and, by 5 February, she had begun fueling ships in Majuro Lagoon.

A week later, Saugatuck returned to Funafuti to receive more cargo. By June, she had completed three shuttle runs to Majuro: one from the Ellice Islands, one from California, and one from Hawaii. On 16 June, she moved into the Marianas.

For two days, she refueled ships of the Saipan assault force; then, late in the afternoon of the 18th, the refueling area was attacked by Japanese aircraft. The oilers were the targets. Saugatuck underwent three attacks during which she was peppered by shrapnel and strafing bullets. She lost only one of her crew during the 15-minute engagement, and within the hour, resumed refueling operations.

On the 19th, the Battle of the Philippine Sea raged to the west. On the 20th, Saugatuck was detached from TU 16.7.5 and ordered back to the Marshalls. On the 25th and 26th, ATR-46 performed necessary repairs to her hull and equipment; and, into July, Saugatuck refueled ships at Eniwetok. On the 15th, she got underway back toward the Marianas. From the 18th to the 26th, she operated off Guam. On the 26th, she transferred her remnant cargo to Marias; and, on the 29th, she returned to Eniwetok.

Three weeks later, Saugatuck moved further west; and, at the end of August, she commenced operations out of Seeadler Harbor in the Admiralties. From that base, north of New Guinea, she supported the units engaged in the assault and occupation of the Palaus in September, and of Leyte in October. She then shifted her base to Ulithi, whence she sortied to refuel units of the fast carrier force as it struck Japanese installations and shipping in the Philippines, Indo-China, Formosa, and Ryukyus during November and December; as it supported the Lingayen assault force in January 1945; and as it hit the Japanese home islands in February. In March, Saugatuck moved into the Volcano Islands where she fueled ships supporting Marine units fighting on Iwo Jima. In April, she got underway for the United States.

Saugatuck arrived at Los Angeles on the 22d; underwent repairs and alterations there at the Bethlehem Steel Co. docks; and headed west again in late June. On 12 July, she returned to Ulithi and, after a run to Leyte, commenced carrying fuel to the Ryukyus. On 4 August, she arrived off Okinawa. On the 10th, she moved into Buckner Bay and remained there until the day after the mid-August cessation of hostilities. She then commenced refueling operations in support of the minesweeping effort in the East China Sea, the occupation of Japan, and the repatriation of Allied and Japanese prisoners of war.

She was Decommissioned, March 29, 1946, at San Francisco, CA. She was struck from the Naval Register and Transferred October 9, 1946 to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

The Saugatuck was chartered by Pacific Tankers on October 30, 1947 but was reacquired by the Navy on January 22, 1948 and assigned to the Naval Transportation Service (NTS). Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) - Later Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Saugatuck (T-AOT-75) with a civilian crew

Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 5 November 1974, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA. Reclassified (along with her sisters) as T-AOT on September 30, 1978.

In July 2006 MARAD listed the Saugatuck under their disposal program. At that time Bay Bridge Enterprises had been awarded on 06-02-2006 a contract for $549,999 to dispose of the Sauguatck. The removal date from the James River Reserver Fleet (JRRF) was listed as 07-18-2006 and final disposal was listed as in process.

Saugatuck earned seven battle stars for World War II service

References

http://www.t2tanker.org

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/history/dd803/ao75/index.html

Combat Fleets of the World 1982/83: Their Ships, Aircraft, and ArmamentJean Labayle CouhatNaval Institute PressISBN 0-87021-125-0

External links