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USNS Mission San Raphael (T-AO-130)
ex
 Mission San Raphael (AO-130) (1947 - 1949)


International Radio Call Signs

Mission San Rapheal (AO-130)
Assigned 1944 International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - How - Queen - Easy
 NHQE
USNS Mission San Rapheal (T-AO-130)
1956 International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Charlie - Victor
 NCCV
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 25 September 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under a Maritime Commission contract at Marinship Corp., Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 31 December 1943
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 22 March 1944
  • Chartered to Los Angeles Tanker Operators, Inc.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 25 April 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA.
  • Acquired by the Navy, 21 October 1947
  • Placed in service by the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) as Mission San Raphael (AO-130) under charter to Union Oil Co.
  • Control transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) 1 October 1949, redesignated USNS Mission San Raphael (T-AO-130)
  • Placed Out of service and returned to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA., 2 February 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 22 June 1955
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 20 June 1956 and placed in service by MSTS under charter to Marine Transport Lines
  • Placed Out of service, 20 August 1959, and returned to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 31 May 1960 and placed in service by MSTS under charter to Marine Transport Lines
  • Placed Out of service, 20 August 1960
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 25 June 1971 to Boston Metals Co., under contract PD-X-910, dated 27 May 1970
    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
    Mission San Raphael (War Shipping Administration)
    Mission San Raphael
    091913004    		 162k
    Namesake
    Mission San Raphael - is a Spanish mission in San Rafael, CA. It was founded in 1817 as a medical asistencia ("sub-mission") of Mission San Francisco de Asís. It was a hospital to treat sick Native Americans, making it Alta California's first sanitarium. The weather was much better than in San Francisco, which helped the ill get better. It was not intended to be a stand-alone mission, but nevertheless grew and prospered and was granted full mission status on October 19, 1822.
    Photo of Saint Rafael Church in San Rafael The church is often mistaken for the San Rafael Mission, which was destroyed. The small building under the palm tree is a rebuilt version of the mission's chapel, 19 May 2006. (Wikipedia)
    Photo by Xyrrus    		 Tommy Trampp
    Mission San Raphael 186k Mission San Raphael under construction on Builders Way# 6 at the Marinship Corp., Sausalito, CA., 34 days after keel laying. US Maritime Commission photo by Marinship courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages. Robert Hurst
    UJSNS Mission San Rafael (T-AO-130)
    Mission San Rafael 51k USNS Mission San Raphael (T-AO-130) underway with a deck cargo of oil drums, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Mission San Rafael 26k USNS Mission San Raphael (T-AO-130) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Mission San Raphael (T-AO-130)
    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
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 4 October 2024