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

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Marias (T-AO-57)
ex
 USS Marias (AO-57) (1944 - 1975)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu- November - Lima
NZNL
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Amherst (L)ima - 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
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (8)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Lebanon, 1-Cuba) - Vietnam Service Medal (1)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down in 1943 as a Maritime Commission type (T2-S2-A3) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 723) at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 21 December 1943
  • Commissioned USS Marias (AO-57), 12 February 1944, CDR. Jens G. Olsen in command
  • During World War II USS Marias was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 11 June to 10 August 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 12 July to 15 August1944     		Luzon operations
    Luzon attacks, 5 to 7 January 1945,
    Formosa attacks, 3 to 4, 9, 15 and 21 January 1945
    China Coast attacks, 12 and 16 January 1945
    Nansei Shoto attack, 22 January 1945
    Tinian capture and occupation, 20 July to 10 August 1944 Iwo Jima operations
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 15 to 23 February 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Raids on Volcano-Bonin Islands and Yap Island, 31 August to 8 September 1944
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 8 to 24 September 1944 Assaults on the Philippine Islands, 9 to 24 September 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operations
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 24 March to 30 June 1945
    5th and 3d Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto, 15 March to 11 June 1945
    Leyte operations
    3d Fleet supporting operations Okinawa Attack, 10 October 1944
    Northern Luzon and Formosa attacks, 11 to 12 October 1944
    Luzon attacks, 20 to 25 November 1944     		3d Fleet operations against Japan, 10 to 18 July and 26 July to 14 August 1945

  • USS Marias was assigned to Occupation and China service for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    Asia - 2 September to 7 October 194521 March to 9 May 1946
    Asia - 19 February to 20 March 194611 to 21 July 1946
    Asia - 18 June to 10 July 19462 August to 3 October 1946
    Asia - 22 July to 1 August 19461 January to 5 March 1947
    Asia - 27 to 31 December 1946 
    Asia - 8 to 17 April 1947 
    Asia - 26 May to 1 June 1947 
    Europe - 25 December 1951 to 12 June 1952 
    Europe - 1 February to 21 September 1953 
    Europe - 8 May to 23 November 1954 
    Europe - 19 May to 31 July 1955 
    Europe - 1 August to 25 October 1955 

  • During the Korean War USS Marias (AO-57) served in the War zone from 10 to 14 August 1950
  • During the Vietnam War USS Marias (AO-57) participated in the following campaign

    Vietnam War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign
    19 to 29 January 1973
    5 to 13 February 1973
    20 February to 2 March 1973
    12 to 20 March 1973
  • Decommissioned and placed in service with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS Marias (T-AO-57), 2 October 1973
  • Placed out of service and transferred, 22 November 1982 to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 December 1992
  • USS Marias earned eight battle stars for World War II service and one campaign star for Vietnam War service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 18 September 1995, at Brownsville, TX., Withdrawn from the James River Reserve Fleet, 1 December 1995
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32'
    Speed 18.3 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 24
    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 16,500 DWT
    Oil 123,700 bbls
    Gasoline, 788,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 15,000 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Bethlehem Shipbuilding geared turbines
    four Foster & 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.
    twin propellers, 13,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Marias (AO-57)
    Marias
    091905728
    NARA 80-G298117    		 630k USS Marias (AO-57) refueling USS Enterprise (CV-6) in rough seas, 8 October 1944.
    US National Archives photo #'s 80-G-298117 and 80-G-298118, US Navy photos now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Bob Chanchola
    Marias
    091905729
    NARA 80-G298118    		 590k
    Marias 188k USS Marias (AO-57) outbound to sea, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    Aucilla 243k USS Marias (AO-57) moored forward of USS Aucilla (AO-56), date and location unknown. Photo by ©Wynburn Lee Taylor Jr. YN3 USS Aucilla 1947
    Submitted by Mark R. Taylor
    Marias 259k USS Marias (AO-57) at anchor, circa 1957-1960, location unknown.
    US Navy photo from the collection of the US Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 2008.122.024    		 Robert Hurst
    CVS-15 Randolph 143k USS Marias (AO-57) replenishing USS Randolph (CVS-15) and USS Cony (DDE-508) along the Atlantic seaboard while conducting ASW (anti-submarine) operations in September 1960 Robert M. Cieri
    CVS-39 Lake Champlain 154k USS Marias (AO-57), center, refueling USS Blandy (DD-943), left, and USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39), date and location unknown. Ron Reeves
    Marias 62k USS Marias (AO-57) at anchor in the harbor at Naples, Italy, late-May 1962. Photo by Jack C. Sofield
    Marias 432k USS Marias (AO-57) refueling USS America (CVA-66), to port, and an unidentified Destroyer to starboard, circa late 1965 - early 1966 in the Mediterranean Sea. Thomas Becher
    Marias 562k USS Marias (AO-57) refueling USS America (CVA-66) as an unidentified destroyer breaks away after completing her refueling evaluation alongside USS Marias, circa late 1965 - early 1966 in the Mediterranean Sea. Thomas Becher
    Marias 114k USS Marias (AO-57) photographed from the flight deck of USS America (CVA-66), 13 February 1966 during underway refueling ops in the Mediterranean Sea. Richard Rosenbach LCDR, USN Ret
    Kankakee
    091905732    		 85k USS Kankakee (AO039) USS Marias (AO-57) photographed from the flight deck of USS America (CVA-66), 13 February 1966 during underway refueling ops in the Mediterranean Sea. Richard Rosenbach LCDR, USN Ret
    Kankakee
    091903932    		 237k USS Kankakee (AO-39) and USS Marius (A0-57) conducting a Boatswain's chair highline personnel transfer at sea, circa December 1964-January 1966 Photo by LTjg. Lars Andersen, USNR, USS Kankakee (AO-39)
    Marias 146k USS Marias (AO-57) alongside USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) during an underway replenishment in 1966. Note that many of the aircraft of Attack Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) are spotted on deck. Note also other ships of the battle group astern of the FDR.
    US Navy photo by PH Denny.    		 Robert Hurst
    Marias 291k Amidships image of USS Marias (AO-57) underway, 13 January 1967 approximately 100 miles off the coast of Florida. Photo Joe Brackett. Robert Hurst
    Marias 64k USS Marias (AO-57), date and location unknown. Steve Singlar
    Marias 98k USS Marias (AO-57) at Frederiksted, St Croix, VI, 29 January 1971 © Richard Leonhardt
    Marias 56k USS Marias (AO-57) at Frederiksted, St Croix, VI, 29 January 1971 © Richard Leonhardt
    Marias 80k USS Marias (AO-57) moored off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, date unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Marias 90k
    Marias
    091905730    		 237k USS Marias (AO-57) underway, date and location unknown Jos Haver
    Marias
    091505736    		 96k USS Marias (AO-57) underway, date and location unknown.
    Auk Visser's Famous T-Tankers     		Robert Hurst
    Marias
    091505737    		 49k USS Marias (AO-57) underway, date and location unknown.
    Auk Visser's Famous T-Tankers     		Robert Hurst
    Marias
    091905733    		 46k USS Marias (AO-57) underway, date and location unknown.
    Auk Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages.    		 Robert Hurst
    Marias
    091905734    		 47k
    USNS Marias (T-AO-57)
    Marias 62k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) at Genoa, Italy, date unknown. Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    Marias 1254k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) under way alongside USS Independence (CV-62) during an underway replenishment in the 1970s. Aft of the island is a North American RA-5C Vigilante which was last deployed in Independence in 1977. The two planes between the RA-5C and the island could either be Grumman C-1 Trader COD aircraft or Grumman S-2 Tracker ASW aircraft. As there are two planes, which would be unusual for COD aircraft, the picture was most probably taken in between 1973 and 1975, when Independence had an S-2 Tracker ASW squadron as part of her air group. In fact, the Vigi appears to be attached to Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron (RVAH-9) "Hoot Owls," which would date the photo to circa July 1974–January 1975.)
    US Defenseimagery.mil photo VIRIN: DN-ST-88-03722, a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery.    		 Robert Hurst
    Marias 99k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) refueling USS Inchon (LPH-12) in October 1975, location unknown. Larry B Lynn
    Marias 121k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) at sea, North Atlantic Ocean, October 1976 © Richard Leonhardt
    Marias 65k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) moored pierside, Bremerhaven, Germany, October 1976. Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    Marias 112k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) underway date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
    Marias 133k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) underway, circa 1970s. location unknown as a civilian-manned MSTS replenishment tanker. Note the reinforced refueling stations aft.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # Unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Marias
    091505731    		 131k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) moored pierside at an oil storage facility while taking on a load of fuels, date and location unknown.
    Photo from Auk Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages.    		 Robert Hurst
    Marias
    091505732    		 86k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) underway date and location unknown.
    Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages - Richard Johnson.    		 Robert Hurst
    Marias
    091505735    		 280k USNS Marias (T-AO-57) conducting an Underway Replenishment (UNREP) at Sea with USS Nashville (LPD-13), date and location unknown.
    Auk Visser's Famous T-Tankers     		Robert Hurst
    Marias 52k Ex-USNS Marias (T-AO-57) moored at Brownsville, TX. in 1996 awaiting dismantling. Ron Reeves
    USS Marias Plaque, Patch and Miscellaneous
    Marias
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski    		 Marias
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski    		 Marias
    1968 Mediterranean Cruisebook cover
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp
    USS Marias
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Olsen, Jens Gothard12 February 1944 - 24 November 1945
    02CAPT. Walden, Albert Joseph24 November 1945 - 30 December 1946
    03CAPT. Snead Jr., William Overton :RADM30 December 1946 - 3 April 1948
    04CAPT. Organ, William Hugh :RADM03 April 1948 - 21 March 1949
    05CDR. Canty, Joseph Patrick :RADM 21 March 1949 - 3 June 1950
    06LCDR. Robinson, Sylvanus Bayne3 June 1950 - 12 June 1950
    07CAPT. Verhoye, Harry James12 June 1950 - 8 November 1951
    08CAPT. Shaffer, Leland Griffith :RADM8 November 1951 - 9 August 1952
    09CDR. Day Jr., Howard Earl09 August 1952 - 11 September 1953
    10CDR. Carlson, Albert Leonard11 September 1953 - 19 October 1954
    11CDR. Madison, John Robert :RADM19 October 1954 - 25 July 1956
    12CAPT. Fullaway, Frank Lewis25 July 1956 - 26 July 1957
    13CAPT. Lyndon, Dennis Charles :RADM26 July 1957 - 3 July 1958
    14CAPT. Lander, Robert Bond (Tex)3 July 1958 - 31 October 1959
    15CAPT. Dockum, Donald Granville31 October 1959 - 27 October 1960
    16CAPT. Lawrence, John Creig, USN (USNA 1939)27 October 1960 - 20 October 1961
    17CAPT. McDaniel Jr., George Thornhill20 October 1961 - 24 October 1962
    18CAPT. Charbonnet Jr., Pierre Numa, USN (USNA 1941) :VADM24 October 1962 - 17 April 1963
    19LCDR. Luoma, Walter Rudolph17 April 1963 - 10 May 1963
    20CAPT. Charbonnet Jr., Pierre Numa, USN (USNA 1941) :VADM10 May 1963 - 19 August 1963
    21CAPT. Satterfield, Loys Malcolm19 August 1963 - 28 August 1964
    22CAPT. Caldwell Jr., Harry Handly, USN (USNA 1944)28 August 1964 - 11 August 1965
    23CAPT. Stack, Martin John11 August 1965 - 1 July 1966
    24CAPT. Johnson, David Alan1 July 1966 - 25 August 1967
    25CAPT. Rumble, Richard Edwards, USN (USNA 1945) :RADM25 August 1967 - 16 August 1968
    26CAPT. Larcombe Jr., Howard Newell (Lou), USN (USNA 1947)16 August 1968 - 26 November 1969
    27CAPT. Hoop Jr., Louie Blythe26 November 1969 - 18 December 1970
    28CAPT. Bouwman, Fredric George, USN (USNA 1947)18 December 1970 - 25 February 1972
    29CDR. Ralph Jr., Steve25 February 1972 - 2 October 1973
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    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 25 October 2024