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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Armadillo (IX-111)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Golf - Whiskey
 NJGW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Armadillo Class Mobile Station Tanker:
  • Laid down, 24 September 1943, as the tanker SS Sidney Howard, a Maritime Commission type (Z-ET1-S-C3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1900) at California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 26 October 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Armadillo (IX-111), 18 November 1943, at San Pedro, CA., LT. Michael R. Meyer in command
  • During World War II USS Armadillo was assigned to Service Force, Pacific Fleet and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 14 April to 30 June 1945

  • Decommissioned, 29 May 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 29 May 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 June 1946
  • USS Armadillo earned one battle star for her World War II service
  • Commercial Service
  • Sold, 14 April 1948, to Windear Navigation Co., renamed SS Dean H.
  • Sold foreign, reflagged Liberian, November 1954
  • Converted to a dry cargo ship at Jacksonville, FL. in 1955
  • Sold, 2 March 1959, to Winco Tankers Inc., reflagged US, renamed SS Chris H.
  • Title transferred to MARAD, 26 December 1962, chartered to Winco Tankers Inc.
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration, 7 February 1963, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 22 February 1972, to N. V. Intershitra, delivered, 10 March 1972, scrapped at Castellon, Spain
    Specifications:
    Displacement 14,500 t.
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 11 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 10
    Enlisted 69
    Cargo Capacity 8.500 t.
    Oil 63,000 Bbls
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 gun mount
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 13,700 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one vertical triple expansion steam engine
    two Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 215psi, 450°
    three Reciprocating 20Kw 120V D.C. Ships' Service Generators
    single propeller, 2,500 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    United States Maritime Commission
    Gemsbok
    094611702    		 140k United States Maritime Commission Tanker Design Z-ET-1-S-C3.
    US National Archives photo thanks to Auke Visser's Famous T-Tanker Pages     		 
    USS Armadillo (IX-111)
    Armadillo
    094611102    		 166k
    Namesake
    Armadillo - (meaning "little armored ones" in Spanish) are New World placental mammals are native to the Americas, where they inhabit a variety of different environments.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Merchant Service
    Armadillo
    094611103    		 115k Ex-USS Armadillo (IX-111) underway in commercial service as Windear Navigation Co., tanker Dean H in port, circa 1948-1959, location unknown.
    Photo ©David Boone. Image courtesy of Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages    		 Robert Hurst
    Armadillo 252k Ex-USS Armadillo (IX-111) underway in commercial service as Winco Tankers Inc.SS Chris H., circa 1959-1963, location unknown.
    ©Skyphoto    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    USS Armadillo (IX-111)
    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 24 May 2024