Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Ramapo (AO-12)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Golf - Papa NUGP

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon, Pearl Harbor, 7 Dec. 1941) - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal with fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Service Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

Patoka Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 16 January 1919, under a United States Shipping Board (USSB) contact at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Newport News, VA.

Launched, 11 September 1919

Commissioned USS Ramapo, 15 November 1919, LCDR. J. D. Smith, USNRF, in command

Designated (AO-12), 17 July 1920

USS Ramapo was at Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941

During World War II USS Ramapo was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Decommissioned, 10 January 1946, at San Francisco, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 21 January 1946

USS Ramapo earned one battle star for World War II service

Transferred to the Maritime Commission at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. for disposal, 30 June 1946

Merchant Service

Sold to West Coast Transoceanic SS Line Agents, 23 April 1948

Resold, 23 April 1948, to James Polk

Resold, 15 November 1948, to the Mar Trade Corp.

Re-flagged Liberian, September 1950

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 5,400 t.(lt) 17,820 t.(fl)
Length 447' 10"
Beam 60' 3"
Draft 26' 2"(mean)
Speed 11.2 kts.

Complement

Officers 18

Enlisted 197

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Cargo Capacity Oil - 79,300 Bbls, 11,100DWT

Armament

two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

four twin 20mm gun mounts

Propulsion

one Newport News quadruple vertical reciprocating (#13 geared turbine) engine

four Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 200psi Sat.

three turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 2,800shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
091901213	328k	*Namesake* Ramapo - Ramapo River is a tributary of the Pompton River, approximately 30 miles long, in southern New York and northern New Jersey.	Tommy Trampp
	67k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** builders place.	Mark Ratto
	284k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** at anchor, date and location unknown. Same as US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo NH 67864	Jim Kurrasch Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
091901202	76k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	.
	17k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12) at anchor off Lahaina, T.H., 31 March 1938. The water is so calm and she has her cane fenders down. Photo taken from USS New Orleans (CA-32) as she is coming along side Ramapo**. US Navy photo	James D. McGrew
	12k	Another view of *USS Ramapo* (AO-12) at anchor off Lahaina, T.H., 31 March 1938. Photo taken from USS New Orleans (CA-32)** as she approaches the oiler. US Navy photo	James D. McGrew
	28k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** underway in Chinese waters, date unknown.	Jeff Schwarm
	906k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12) is berthed outboard of USS Houston (CA-30), with USS Chicago (CA-29) berthed astern of Houston at the Navy Yard Mare Island, CA., 10 September 1940. USS William Ward Burrows (AP-6) and YD-33 (150 ton crane) are alongside Chicago**. US Navy Photo.	Darryl Baker
091901214	101k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** probably off Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo, CA., circa mid-1941. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 1. Note the contrasting plants spelling out USN on the hillside in the left background. U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command photo # 19-N-25880 a U.S. Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, U.S. National Archives.	Robert Hurst
091901215	69k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** silhouetted against the early morning sunshine, circa mid-1941, probably off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 1. U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command photo # 19-N-25881 a U.S. Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, U.S. National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	152k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12) (plan view amidships) moored at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 15 April 1943. Ramapo** was at Mare Island from 4 April until 16 April 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2656-43, 4/15/43.	Darryl Baker
	53k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** (stern view) underway after departing Mare Island Navy Yard, 17 April 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2740-43, 4/17/43.	Darryl Baker
	41k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** (bows on view) underway after departing Mare Island Navy Yard, 17 April 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2742-43, 4/17/43.	Darryl Baker
	50k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12)** (broadside view) underway after departing Mare Island Navy Yard, 17 April 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2742-43, 4/17/43.	Darryl Baker
	145k	*USS Ramapo* (AO-12) in San Francisco Bay, 17 April 1943. This view shows the very low freeboard of this flush decked tanker type when fully loaded. Ramapo** has received a second pair of 3"/50 guns, one pair being forward of the bridge and the other being forward of the after superstructure. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-52057, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst

USS Ramapo (AO-12)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Smith, James Downing, USN (USNA 1908)	15 November 1919 - 9 November 1921
02	CDR. Neal, George Franklin, USN (USNA 1901) :RADM	9 November 1921 - 1 June 1922
03	CDR. Bertholf, Wallace, USN (USNA 1891)	1 June 1922 - 4 June 1924
04	CAPT. McCrary, Frank, Robert, USN (USNA 1901)	4 June 1924 - 8 June 1926
05	CDR. Abernathy, Robert Andrew, USN (USNA 1900)	8 June 1926 - 15 June 1928
06	CDR. Stewart, Lee Marrison, USN (USNA 1904)	15 June 1928 - 9 September 1929
07	CAPT. Woods, James Sterett, USN (USNA 1905)	9 September 1929 - 6 June 1931
08	CAPT. Mayo, Claude Banks, USN (USNA 1907)	6 June 1931 - 16 April 1933
09	CDR. Lafrenz, Walter Frederick, USN (USNA 1907)	16 April 1933 - 11 May 1934
10	LCDR. Turner, Harold Agnew, USN (XOIC)	11 May 1934 - 19 May 1934
11	CDR. Van de Carr, James Lee, USN (USNA 1908)	19 May 1934 - 21 April 1936
12	LCDR. Holden, Carl Frederick, USN (USNA 1917) :VADM	21 April 1936 - 8 June 1936
13	CDR. Davis, Charles Covode, USN (USNA 1909)	8 June 1936 - 8 April 1937
14	CDR. LT. Ellsworth Jr., Ernest Bradford, USN (USNA 1931) :RADM	8 April 1937 - 10 April 1937
15	CDR. Wessell, Leonard Paul, USN (USNA 1917)	10 April 1937 - 12 May 1939
16	CDR. Vose, William Cecil, USN (USNA 1919) :RADM	12 May 1939 - 9 July 1940
17	CDR. Curry Jr., Duncan, USN (USNA 1921)	9 July 1940 - 17 June 1942
18	CDR. Goggins, William Benard, USN (USNA 1920)	17 June 1942 - 21 August 1942
19	CDR. Homann, Alfred James, USN (USNA 1922)	21 August 1942 - 21 December 1943
20	LCDR. Fogarty, William Howard, USNR	21 December 1943 - 28 December 1943
21	LT. Goza, Harry Ellis, USNR	28 December 1943 - 11 January 1944
22	LCDR. Fogarty, William Howard, USNR	11 January 1944 - 2 August 1944
23	LCDR. Bale, John Hardin, USNR	2 August 1944 - 21 November 1945
24	LT. Potter, William Robert, USNR	21 November 1945 - 10 January 1946


Courtesy 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
Deck Log, Sunday, 7 December 1941
Pearl Harbor Action Report
MARAD Vessel History Database

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index

Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 4 October 2022