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USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132)
ex
 Mission Santa Clara (AO-132) (1947 - 1949)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Quebec - India
 NHQI
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132) was transferred to Pakistan and renamed PNS Dacca (A-41)
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 15 March 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC 1820) at Marinship Corp., Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 18 May 1944
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 21 June 1944, for charter to Los Angeles Tanker Operations, Inc,
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 8 April 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL.
  • Acquired by the Navy, 5 November 1947
  • Placed in service by the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) as Mission Santa Clara (AO-132) under charter to Pacific Tankers, Inc.,
  • Control transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) 1 October 1949, redesignated USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132)
  • During the Korean War USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132) participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    10 to 20 October 1950     		Communist China Spring Offensive
    28 May to 13 June 1951
    Communist China Aggression
    17 to 20 November 1950
    31 December 1959 to3 January 1951     		UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    30 July to 3 August 1951
    13 to 27 November 1951

  • Placed out of service, 25 June 1959
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Reacquired and placed in service with MSTS, 30 November 1959, chartered to Mathiasens Tanker Industries, Inc. for operations
  • Placed out of service and transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., 22 December 1959
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1961
  • USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132) earned for battle stars for Korean War service
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 10 May 1962, for conversion to an underway replenishment oiler
  • Transferred to Pakistan 17 January 1963, renamed PNS Dacca (A-41)
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,532 t.(lt) 21,880 t.(fl)
    Length 523' 6"
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 10"
    Speed 15.1 kts (trial)
    Complement
    52 CivMar
    17 US Navy Armed Guard
    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 15,300DWT
    Oil 120,400 Bbls
    Gasoline 575,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 9,235 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric turbo-electric engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox D-type boilers, 600psi 825°

    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 400Kw 450V A.C.
     two turbo-drive 85Kw 120V D.C.
     two turbo-drive 55Kw 120V D.C.
     one turbo-drive 50Kw 450V A.C.
    single propeller, 10,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    United States Maritime Commission
    Mission Santa Clara
    091913203    		 272k
    Namesake
    Mission Santa Clara is a Spanish mission in the city of Santa Clara, CA. The mission, which was the eighth in California, was founded on January 12, 1777 by the Franciscan order. Named for Saint Clare of Assisi, who founded the order of the Poor Clares and was an early companion of St. Francis of Assisi, this was the first California mission to be named in honor of a woman. It is the namesake of both the city and county of Santa Clara, as well as of Santa Clara University, which was built around the mission. This is the only mission located on the grounds of a university campus. Although ruined and rebuilt six times, the settlement was never abandoned, and today it functions as the university chapel for Santa Clara University. (Wikipedia)
    Photo by Carschten    		 Tommy Trampp
    Mission Santa Clara
    091913204    		 72k SS Mission Santa Clara underway from Marinship Corp, Sausalito, Marin County, Richardson Bay for San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean for sea trials, circa June 1944.
    Photo courtesy Marinship Corp.    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132)
    Mission Santa Clara
    091913206    		 262k USNS Mission Santa Cruz (T-AO 133) underway circa late 1949. location unknown with a harbor tug assisting. The marking on her bow has been changed from "U.S. Naval Tanker" to "U.S. Naval Ship." but the work was sloppy and the letters "ker" still show after the word "ship.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC). Photo No. Unknown.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mission Santa Clara 318k USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132) underway in the Long Beach CA, area, date unknown. David Buell
    Mission Santa Clara
    091913207    		 99k USNS Mission Santa Cruz (T-AO 133) underway probably during delivery to Pakistan in late 1962 as their Dacca (A-41) after a limited conversion to a fleet oiler. She was fitted with a single underway replenishment rig aft of the bridge and was the only ship of this class to wear her American AO hull number.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file). Photo No. Unknown.    		 Robert Hurst
    PNS Dacca (A-41)
    Mission Santa Clara
    091913201    		 92k Ex-Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132) underway, circa 1964, location unknown while in Pakistani service as PNS Dacca (A-41).
    Shipspotting.com    		  
    Mission Santa Clara
    091913205    		 28k PNS Dacca (A-41) underway in 1964, location unknown.
    Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Mission Santa Clara (T-AO-132)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 21 June 2024