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
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)
ex
 USS Mispillion (AO-105) (1945 - 1975)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Mike - Xray
 NHMX
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Debark (N)ovember - 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 (4) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (8) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Taiwan Straits, 6-Quemoy-Matsu, 1-Vietnam, 4-Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (10)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 14 February 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 2701), at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 10 August 1945
  • Commissioned USS Mispillion (AO-105), 29 December 1945, CDR. R. E. Wingler in command
  • During the Korean War USS Mispillion participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    30 September to 26 October 1950     		Second Korean Winter
    30 November to 10 December 1951
    13 to 21 December 1951
    29 December 1951 to 8 January 1952
    16 to 29 January 1952
    6 to 14 February 1952
    9 to 24 April 1952
    Communist China Aggression
    4 November 1950 to 24 January 1951     		Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    5 to 19 May 1952
    29 May to 12 June 1952
    17 June to 2 July 1952
    5 to 12 July 1952
    23 July to 7 August 1952
    First UN Counter Offensive
    25 January to 18 February 1951     		Third Korean Winter
    10 to 27 December 1952
    7 to 18 January 1953
    6 to 13 February 1953
    22 February 2 March 1953
    Communist China Spring Offensive
    27 April to 9 May 1951
    6 to 21 and 29 to 31 May 1951     		Korea Summer-Fall 1953
    2 to 11 and 21 to 30 May 1953

  • Placed in commission in reserve for "Jumboization", 16 April 1965, at Toledo, OH., completed at Boston, MA., and placed in full commission, 6 September 1966
  • During the Vietnam War USS Mispillion participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    30 April to 10 May 1967
    19 to 30 May 1967     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 to 16 and 22 to 31 October 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    5 to 18 June 1967
    29 June to 13 July 1967
    19 July to 2 August 1967
    17 to 28 August 1967
    2 to 4 and 11 to 24 September 1967
    8 to 20 October 1967
    24 October to 5 November 1967     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    1 November 1969
    15 November to 6 December 1969
    18 to 25 December 1969
    1 to 13 January 1970
    24 January to 15 February 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    6 to 16 and 21 to 30 June 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    12 to 25 November 1970
    1 to 4 and 16 to 29 December 1970
    27 to 29 January 1971
    2 to 9, 13 to 18 and 24 t o26 February 1971
    3 to 11, 15 to 21 and 27 to 30-MAR 1971
    4 to 9 April 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 to 20 and 27 to 31 July 1968
    7 to 23 August 1968
    26 August to 3 September 1968
    15 to 20 September 1968
    19 to 31 October 1968     		Consolidation II
    18 to 24 March 1972
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    5 to 17 November 1968     		Vietnam Ceasefire
    4 to 14 and 19 to 24 April 1972
    1 to 5, 10 to 14 and 23 to 27 May 1972
    5 to 10 and 17 to 23 June 1972
    17 to 21 July 1972
    27 July to 2 August 1972
    12 to 22 August 1972
    30 August to 18 September 1972
    24 September to 5 October 1972
    12 October to 2 November 1972

  • Decommissioned, 26 July 1974
  • Placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) in 1975
  • Placed out of service circa 1994
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 February 1995
  • USS Mispillion earned eight battle stars for Korean War service and ten campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Custody transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Title transferred, 1 May 1999 to MARAD
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in early 2012, to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., for $1.8 million
    Cimmeron 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 282
    Largest Boom Capacity 10t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity
    NSFO 123,700Bbls
    Gasoline 788,000Gals
    Fuel Capacity 15,000 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Bethlehem geared turbines
    four Foster and Wheeler K-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 400Kw 230V A.C.
     one Diesel-drive 150Kw 230V A.C.
    two propellers, 13,500shp
     "Jumboization" Specifications:
    Displacement 12,840 t.(lt) 33,987 t.(fl)
    Length 644"
    Draft 34' 9"
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Mispillion (AO-105)
    Mispillion
    091910542    		 351k
    Namesake
    Mispillion - A river flowing to Delaware Bay in southern Delaware. It is approximately 15 miles long and drains an area of 76 square miles on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. It rises in northern Sussex County, approximately 3 miles southwest of Milford, and flows generally east-northeastwardly, defining the boundary between Sussex and Kent counties; it passes through the center of Milford on its course to its mouth at Delaware Bay, 16 miles northwest of Cape Henlopen. The lower 12 miles of the river are considered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be navigable.
    Photo - The Mispillion River in Milford, Delaware, as viewed downstream from a pedestrian bridge, 30 December 2006.©Tim Kiser    		 Tommy Trampp

    Launching Party including the Ship's Sponsor Mrs. C.E. Feddeman who breaks the traditional bottle Champagne across the bow of Mispillion (AO-105) during the the fleet tanker's christening and launching ceremony, 10 August 1945, at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA. Contributed by Dale Hargrave and Bob Canchola, courtesy Bruce Hevner
    Mispillion
    091910547    		 Mispillion
    091910551    		 Mispillion
    091910551    		 Mispillion
    091910545    		 Mispillion
    091910548    		 Mispillion
    091910549    		 Mispillion
    091910546    		 Mispillion
    091910550

    Mispillion 84k USS Mispillion (AO-105) in San Francisco Bay, in "pre-jumboization" configuration, date unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Mispillion 1024k USS Mispillion (AO-105) replenishing USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) during rough seas off Korea, 18 December 1952.
    US Defenseimagery.mil photo # HN-SN-98-07204/80-G-480456, a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mispillion 86k USS Mispillion (AO-105) crew photo, circa 1954. Anonymous Donor
    Mispillion 184k USS Mispillion (AO-105) refueling USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) and a destroyer simultaneously while the rest of the carrier groups escorting destroyers wait their turn for a fill-up, October 1959, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Tommy Trampp
    Mispillion
    091910535    		 142k USS Mispillion (AO-105) refueling USS Higbee (DD-806) in 1960 in the Far East.
    US Navy photo    		 Chin Yu Chu
    Mispillion 165k USS Mispillion (AO-105) refueling USS Bennington (CVS-20) at sea, 20 August 1963. USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) is taking on fuel from off the oiler's starboard side. Nine Grumman S-2E Tracker and four Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King helicopters of Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 59 (CVSG-59) are visible on Bennington´s flight deck.
    US Navy History and Heritage Command photo # NH 97589, PH2 Hobbs.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mispillion 95k USS Mispillion (AO-105) underway off the coast of Oahu, HI., 18 January 1964.
    US Navy photo by PH2 D. R. Parks, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages    		 Robert Hurst
    Mispillion
    091910561    		 125k USS Mispillion (AO-105) underway probably off Oahu, Hawaii after her armament was reduced, circa 18 January 1964.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (UA-283). Photo # Unknown. Images courtesy of Shipscribe    		 Robert Hurst
    Mispillion 100k Bow quarter view of USS Mispillion (AO-105) underway in Boston harbor in July 1966, at the completion her Jumboization conversion. Although the insertion of the nearly 100-foot-long additional hull section was performed by a private shipyard, Boston Naval Shipyard completed the conversion.
    Boston Naval Shipyard photo ASF #5129, Boston National Historical Park, Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-13609..    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
    Mispillion 100k USS Mispillion (AO-105) underway off San Diego, CA., after jumboization, circa 1966. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Mispillion
    091910566    		 1003 USS Mispillion (AO-105) and the destroyer escort USS Bronstein (DE-1037) underway in heavy seas in 1967.
    U.S. Navy photo from the USS Hornet (CVS-12) 1967 cruise book    		 Robert Hurst
    Mispillion
    091910562    		 286k The "Union 76" ball on the stern of USS Mispillion (AO-105), circa 1968.
    USS Mispillion AOE-105 1968 WestPac Cruise Book    		 Photos by Bruce A. Hevner
    Mispillion
    091910563    		 766k
    Mispillion
    091910564    		 101k USS Waldron (DD-699) coming alongside USS Mispillion (AO-105) to refuel While operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, October, 1967. Note Mispillion’s “customer service“ sign in the foreground and signal lamp at left.
    Photo by PH1 Don Grantham. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.    		 John Spivey
    Mispillion
    091910526    		 101k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS America (CVA-66) while on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin, circa June-October 1968. Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
    Mispillion 148k View from USS England (DLG-22) as she closes with USS Mispillion (AO-105) for an underway replenishment, WestPac late summer of 1968. John Spivey
    Mispillion
    091910532    		 117k View from USS Hancock (CVA-19) of USS Mispillion (AO-105) during an underway replenishment, WestPac 1968. Note the rotating Union 76 service station ball on the stern of Mispillion.
    Photo courtesy David Linhorst    		 Bob Chanchola
    Mispillion
    091910533    		 159k
    Mispillion
    091910534    		 100k
    Mispillion 265k USS Mispillion (AO-105) during an underway replenishment on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin, circa 1968. Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
    Mispillion
    091910952    		 244k USS Mispillion (AO-105) during a refueling evolution in the South China Sea a ruptured connection causes fuel to spary out of the hose, December 1968.
    US National Archives photo # USN 1137098 a US Navy photo by PH2 William M. Hopkins now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Bob Canchola
    Mispillion 708k USS Mispillion (AO-105) steaming into position for an underway replenishment while "Seadevils" Helicopter Composite Squadron Seven (HC-7) H-46 Sea Knights assigned to USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) conduct a Vertical Replenishment in the Tonkin Gulf during the Fall of 1969. The ship being served is unknown. Photo by William P. Jones, MD
    Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

    A Series of six photos by William Garner taken from USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) during and underway replenishment with USS Mispillion (AO-105) on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1970
    Contributed by Bob Canchola with permission from William Garner
    Mispillion
    091910536    		 Mispillion
    091910537    		 Mispillion
    091910538    		 Mispillion
    091910539    		 Mispillion
    091910540    		 Mispillion
    091910540
    Mispillion
    091910565    		 24k U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Chicago (CG-11), not visible, approaching USS Mispillion (AO-105) at dawn for refueling in the Western Pacific, during the autumn of 1970.
    Thewellman. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication    		 Robert Hurst
    Mispillion
    091910553    		 201k USS Mispillion (AO-105) at anchor in a South Vietnam port while transferring petroleum products to barges, circa November 1970.
    Photos by Bruce A Hevner USS Mispillion    		 Bob Chanchola
    Mispillion
    091910554    		 157k
    Mispillion
    091910555    		 182k USS Mispillion (AO-105) transferring or receiving petroleum products from another Navy oiler believed to be USS Manatee (AO-58) while underway in the South China Sea, circa Novembner-December 1970.
    Photo by Bruce A Hevner USS Mispillion    		 Bob Chanchola
    Mispillion
    091910544    		 148k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Oriskany (CVA-34) during Oriskany's 1971 WestPac deployment.
    Photo by Paul Kohler USS Oriskany    		 Bob Chanchola
    Mispillion
    091910556    		 907k USS Mispillion (AO-105) possibly transferring or receiving petroleum products from an unidentified oiler, circa February-March 1971.
    Photo from Bruce Hevner #74 USS Mispillion    		 Bob Chanchola
    Mispillion 57k USS Mispillion (AO-105) underway , circa 1971, location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Mispillion
    091910558    		 160k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting a highline transfer of personnel with another unidentified Fleet Oiler, May 1972.
    Photos by Bruce Hevner USS Mispillion AO-105.    		 Bob Canchola
    Mispillion
    091910559    		 172k
    Mispillion
    091910558    		 169k
    Mispillion 245k USS Mispillion (AO-105) refueling USS Schenectady (LST-1185), circa 1973. Derick Hartshorn
    Mispillion 159k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Anchorage (LSD-36), circa 1973. Derick Hartshorn, courtesy Del Loewe
    Mispillion 135k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Anchorage (LSD-36), with USS White Plains (AFS-4) in the distance, circa 1973. Derick Hartshorn, courtesy Del Loewe
    Mispillion
    091910543    		 135k Ship's plaque presented to RADM. (CAPT.) Joseph L. Coleman, USN, Commanding Officer USS Mispillion (AO-105) from 29 September 1967 - 25 September 1968 Tommy Trampp
    USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)
    CV-41 Midway
    NS0241bx    		 2.37M

    Crew members pose for a photo on the bow of USS Midway(CV-41), 16 December 1987, in the Arabian Sea. The photo was taken during the carrier's deployment to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, 15 October 1987–12 April 1988. Various aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 are visible on deck.

    Ships in the battle group pictured are, left to right the ammunition ship USS Kilauea (T-AE-26), USS Midway (CVA-41), the combat stores ship USS White Plains (AFS-4), the fleet oiler USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105), and the frigate USS Knox (FF-1052).

    Photo by PH3 William Holck, USN. US Defense Imagery photo VIRIN: DN-ST-88-02563

    		 Bob Canchola, BT, USS Oriskany 1971–73
    Mispillion
    091910519
    VIRIN: DN-SC-84-02652     		1843k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) refueling USS Leahy (CG-16) and USS Sample (FF-1048), 1 December 1980.
    091910519 - Defenseimagery.mil photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-84-02652.a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery.
    091910567 - US National Archives and Records Administration, NAID 6379189.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mispillion
    091910567
    NARA NAID 6379189     		306k
    Mispillion 189k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105), in "post-jumboization" configuration, date and location unknown. William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain
    President, MSC Retiree Association
    Mispillion 644k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) underway , date and location unknown. David Buell
    Mispillion 1377k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) replenishing USS Constellation (CVA-64), and USS Somers (DDG-34), circa 1981-82. Photo by Paul Jarvis USS Constellation
    Mispillion
    091810557    		 335k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) and USNS Passumpsic (T-AO-107) moored at Naval Ship Repair Facility, Subic Bay, Philippines, 2 January 1987. Note the optical differences between the two sister ships, one empty, one fully loaded. The destroyer USS Elliot (DD-967), the guided missile frigate USS Ramsey (FFG-2), and the amphibious assault ship USS Bellau Wood (LHA-3) are visible in the background.
    US National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6483574, a US Navy photo by PH2(NAC) Sanner, now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Robert Hurst
    MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet
    Mispillion 203k Ex-USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) laid up in reserve in the Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
    US Maritime Administration photos    		 Ron Reeves
    Mispillion 241k
    Pigeon 872k Ex-USS Pigeon (ASR-21) at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 22 January 2012. Ex-Pigeon was there for cleaning before being towed to the International Shipbreaking Ltd. yard for dismantling. Beyond Pigeon is Ex-USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) in Dry Dock #3, also at the yard for cleaning before being towed to ESCO Marine in Brownsville, TX. for dismantling. Photos by Darryl Baker
    Pigeon 1071k
    Mispillion 979k Ex-USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) in Dry Dock #3 at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 22 January 2012. Mispillion was there for cleaning prior to being towed to Brownsville, TX. for dismantling by ESCO Marine. Photo by Darryl Baker

    USS Mispillion Additional Ships Patches
    Mispillion
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski    		 Mispillion
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski

    For more photos and information about USS / USNS Mispillion, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • MARAD Vessel History Database
  • USS Mispillion (AO-105) Memorabilia
    • Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Wingler, Ray E.29 December 1945 - 5 April 1946
    02CDR. Johnson, Doir Curtis5 April 1946 - 23 February 1947
    03CAPT. Lackner, Peter Robert23 February 1947 - 16 February 1948
    04CAPT. Harrison, Charles Edward16 February 1948 - 4 January 1949
    05CAPT. Zahm, John Crawford4 January 1949 - 20 December 1949
    06CAPT. Stillman, Carl Frederick20 December 1949 - 1 December 1950
    07CAPT. Flenniken, James Alexander1 December 1950 - 5 August 1952
    08CAPT. Munson, Henry Glass5 August 1952 - 6 July 1953
    09CAPT. Jewett Jr., Garry William6 July 1953 - 13 July 1954
    10CAPT. Cairnes, George Henry13 July 1954 - 11 October 1955
    11CAPT. Denton, James Boyce11 October 1955 - 8 November 1956
    12CAPT. Stephan, Charles Robert8 November 1956 - 3 December 1957
    13CAPT. Holcombe, Charles Mortimer3 December 1957 - 11 March 1959
    14CAPT. Dierman, Frederick George11 March 1959 - 18 March 1960
    15CAPT. Dosé, Robert George18 Marhc 1960 - 24 March 1961
    16CAPT. Gibson, Jack Eugene 24 March 1961 - 7 March 1962
    17CAPT. Ringness, William Merritt7 March 1962 - 11 April 1963
    18CAPT. Houston, Joseph Allan11 April 1963 - 13 May 1964
    19CAPT. Pardee, William McKnight13 May 1964 - 15 March 1966
    20CAPT. Oller Jr., John Secrist15 March 1966 - 24 March 1967
    21CAPT. Van Lier Ribbink, Edvard Frederick, USN24 March 1967 - 29 September 1967
    22CAPT. Coleman, Joseph Lustrat, USN :RADM29 September 1967 - 25 September 1968
    23CAPT. Taylor, David Junior25 September 1968 - December 1969
    24CAPT. Toole Jr., Wycliffe David (Wick) :RADMDecember 1969 - December 1970
    25CAPT. Barker, Harold Drake USNDecember 1970 - 13 April 1972
    26CDR. MacLean, Robert Evers13 April 1972 - 10 December 1973
    27CDR. Fitzwilliam, Peter Kaufmann, USN (USNA 1956)10 December 1973 - 26 July 1974
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 15 November 2024