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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Lost to enemy action, 20 November 1944

USS Mississinewa (AO-59)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Quebec - Foxtrot
NZQF

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Personal Awards

Purple Heart (20 November 1944 - KIA 63. WIA 96)

Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 5 October 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A1) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 725) at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.

Launched, 28 March 1944

Commissioned USS Mississinewa (AO-59), 18 May 1944, CAPT. Philip George Beck, USNR, in command

Lost due to enemy action, 20 November 1944 at Ulithi anchorage, Caroline Islands, sunk by Kaiten manned torpedo, one of five launched from Imperial Japanese Navy submarines I-36 and I-47

Struck from the Naval Register, 26 November 1944

USS Mississinewa earned four battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
Length 553'
Beam 75'
Draft 32'
Speed 18.3 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers - 22

Enlisted - 291

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal 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 Steel geared turbines

four Foster and Wheeler K-type boilers, 450psi 750°

double Falk Main Reduction Gear
Ship's Service Generators
two turbo-drive 400Kw 230V A.C.
one Diesel-drive 150Kw 230V A.C.

twin propellers, 13,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By/Source
091905901	130k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)** anchored, Hampton Roads, Virginia, 25 May 1944. She is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32, Design 3AO. US Naval History and Heritage Command NH 97279.	091905901 - US Naval History and Heritage Command 091905913 - Auke Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages, Robert Hurst
091905913	59k
	59k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)** underway, circa May 1944, location unknown. She is painted in camouflage scheme Measure 32, Design 3AO. US Naval History and Heritage Command NH 97280.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	146k	*USS Sargent Bay* (CVE-83) approaches USS Mississinewa (AO-59) at the start of her refueling operations on the morning of 24 September1944. Mississinewa** refueled two Escort carriers and three destroyers of Task Unit 32.7.2 that day, transferring the equivalent of almost 25,000 barrels (1,037,820 gallons) of "Navy Special Fuel Oil" and nearly 105,000 gallons of Aviation fuel to the five ships over nine hours. US National Archives Photo # 8-G-290549, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, NARA College Park, MD.	Tracy White
	127k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)'s aft hose approaches USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83)** as the ships set up for the transfer of fuel. Two saddles hold the hose up at the high point to safely stretch it between the two ships. US National Archives Photo # 80-G-290550, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, NARA College Park, MD.	Tracy White
	182k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)'s steams alongside USS Independence (CVL-22) on 11 October 1944 during a replenishment at sea. Independence received the equivalent of 4,857 barrels of fuel from Mississinewa that day. On this day Mississinewa** refueled nine ships over the course of 12 hours, transferring the equivalent of 40,264 barrels of fuel oil to one battleship, two carriers, two cruisers, and four destroyers. US National Archives Photo # 80-G-290028, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, NARA College Park, MD.	Tracy White
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-290030	188k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)'s steams alongside USS Independence (CVL-22) on 11 October 1944 during a replenishment at sea. The turbulence from the nearness of the ships causes them to roll and pull towards each other and amplifies the waves pushing one up to Mississinewa*'s bridge level, towering over a sailor standing on the main deck. US National Archives Photo #'s 80-G-290030, and 80-G-290031* US Navy photos now in the collections of the US National Archives, NARA College Park, MD.	Tracy White
US National Archives Photo # 80-G-290031	196k		Tracy White
	65k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59) burning and sinking at Ulithi Atoll 20 November 1944, after being hit by a Japanese "Kaiten" human torpedo. The aircraft carrier USS Langley (CVL-27)** is anchored in the foreground. US National Archives photo 80-G-270753, A US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval Historical Center
	572k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59) at Ulithi atoll, 20 November 1944. The oiler in the photo is USS Pamanset (AO-85)**. US Navy photo.	Tommy Trampp
	88k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)** burning and sinking at Ulithi Atoll 20 November 1944. The capsized ship's bottom can be seen at the base of the flames, with bow or stern toward the left US National Archives photo # 80-G-K-5510 a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	219k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)** burning and sinking at Ulithi Atoll 20 November 1944. US Navy photo	Robert Hurst
	94k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59) sinking in Ulithi anchorage after being hit by a Japanese Kaiten human torpedo, 20 November 1944. Photographed by SK1 Simon ("Sid") Harris, from USS Munsee (ATF 107). The original photograph was received from USS Ajax (AR-6)** in 1987. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: NH 97981	Robert Hurst
091905914	167k	*USS Mississinewa* (AO-59)** sinking in Ulithi anchorage after being hit by a Japanese Kaiten human torpedo, 20 November 1944. US Navy photo	Robert Hurst