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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Laramie (AO-16)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Golf - Lima NUGL

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 26 August 1942) - American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Personnel Awards

Navy Cross (CO. CDR Peter M. Moncy)

Alameda Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down in 1920 under a United States Shipping Board (USSB) contact at William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, PA.

Launched, date unknown

Acquired from the USSB at Mobile, AL, 17 December 1921

Commissioned USS Laramie (AO-16), 28 December 1921, LCDR. Preston Herndon, USNRF

Decommissioned, 19 June 1922

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk, VA.

Converted for Naval service at Brooklyn Navy Yard

Recommissioned in ordinary at Philadelphia Navy Yard, 26 June 1940, CDR. James J. Hughes in command

Recommissioned in full at Brooklyn Navy Yard, 6 December 1940

During World War II USS Laramie (AO-16) was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet

Decommissioned, 16 November 1945

Struck from the Naval Register, 28 November 1945

Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 28 May 1946

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping by the Maritime Commission, 28 May 1946, to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, MD. for $15,500.00 (PD-X-145). Withdrawn from the James River Reserve Fleet and delivered to Boston Metals Co., 11 June 1946. Scrapping completed, 1 June 1947

Specifications:
Displacement 4,410 t.(lt) 14,950 t.(fl)
Length 446'
Beam 68'
Draft 26' 4"
Speed 11.3 kts.

Complement

Officers 17

Enlisted 200

Cargo Capacity 9,000 DWT

Oil 53,100 Bbls

Gasoline 358,000 Gals

Largest Boom Capacity 10t.

Armament

two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

four twin 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacity

NSFO 5,840 Bbls

Propulsion

one William Cramp and Sons vertical triple expansion steam engine

three single end boilers, 190psi Sat°
Ship's Service Generators
two turbo-drive 75Kw 120V D.C.
one turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.

single propeller, 2,800shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
091901608	78k	*Namesake< Laramie* is a tributary river of the North Platte River, approximately 280 miles long, in the states of Colorado and Wyoming. The river was named for Jacques La Ramie, a fur trapper who visited the area in the early 19th century. The Laramie River, as it flows past the site of old Fort Laramie. (Wikipedia)	Tommy Trampp
091901609	266k	*USS Laramie* (AO-16) and Seaplane Wrecking Derrick No. 1, YSD-1 and USS Allegheny (AT-19)*, moored at NAS Pensacola, January 1922. West Florida History Center, UWF Libraries. ID uwfnam_NAS_1921-1922_c.a.1922-1925_collieratpier302(2) (IID) 92002694* and West Florida History Center, UWF Libraries. ID uwfnam_NAS_1921-1922_c.a.1922-1925_collieratpier302(2) (IID)	David Upton
091901610	217k		David Upton
	101k	*USS Laramie* (AO-16) at the New York Navy Yard, 13 December 1940, just after being placed in full commission. She is alongside the former passenger liner SS Manhattan> undergoing conversion for Naval Service. She will be commissioned USS Wakefield (AP-21)** in June 1941. US Navy photo, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
	105k	*USS Laramie* (AO-16)** underway near Norfolk Navy Yard, 9 October 1941, about ten months after activation. She carries an armament of two 5"/51 low-angle guns (fore and aft), four 3"/50 antiaircraft guns, and four .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine guns. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, photo # 19-N-25815 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	24k	*USS Laramie* (AO-16)** moored pierside, probably in Greenland, date unknown. US Navy photo	Arthur's Page USS Laramie and USS Relief
	40k	*USS Laramie* (AO-16)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Paul Welter, YN2, USS Laramie
	93k	This photo shows the damage to *USS Laramie* (AO-16), caused by a German U-boat attack, 27 August 1942, while steaming in convoy near the eastern end of Belle Isle Strait. Laramie** was fully loaded with AVGAS, oil and general cargo including depth charges. US Navy photo	Rod Keller
	108k	*USS Laramie* (AO-16)** near the New York Navy Yard, 21 February 1943. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-25815, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
	44k	*USS Laramie* (AO-16)** at anchor near the New York Navy Yard, 21 February 1943. US Navy photo	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

USS Laramie (AO-16)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Herndon, Preston	28 December 1921 - 19 June 1922
	Decommissioned	19 June 1922 - 26 June 1940
02	CDR. Hughes, James Joseph	26 June 1940 - 17 September 1941
03	CDR. Moncy, Peter Michael, USN (USNA 1921b) :RADM	17 September 1941 - 6 February 1943
04	CDR. Keller, Walter Smith	6 February 1943 - 7 February 1944
05	CDR. Holdorff, Ernest Bernard	7 February 1944 - 7 November 1944
06	LCDR. Nold, George Ellsworth	7 November 1944 - 20 September 1945
07	LT. Tredick Jr., George Andrew	20 September 1945 - 16 November 1945


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
Postal Covers related to the ship

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 18 March 2022