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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Abatan (AW-4)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Sierra - Alpha NASA

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Pasig Class Distilling Ship:

Laid down, 9 June 1944, as SS Mission San Lorenzo, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 1827) at Marinship Corp, Sausalito, CA.

Renamed Abatan and designated (AO-92), 25 July 1944

Launched, 6 August 1944

Redesigned as a Distilling Ship, 24 August 1944

Acquired by the Navy, 28 November 1944

Converted for Naval Service at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.

Commissioned USS Abatan (AW-4), 29 January 1945, LCDR. Einor N. Eriksen, USNR in command

During World War II USS Abatan was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Abatan was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 10 October 1945 to 25 May 1946

Decommissioned, 27 January 1947

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia, PA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960

Transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.

Reacquired and reinstated in the Naval Register, 27 September 1962, for use as a backup fresh water ship at Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1970, but retained at Guantanamo Bay

Final Disposition, destroyed as a target 1 March 1980

Specifications:
Displacement 6,640 t.(lt) 21,650 t.(fl)
Length 523' 6"
Beam 68'
Draft 30' 10"
Speed 15.1 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 24

Enlisted 241

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Cargo Capacity Water 92,650 Bbls

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

Fuel Capacity NSFO 11,580 Bbls

Propulsion

one General Electric turbo-electric engine

two Babcock and Wilcox D-type boilers, 600psi 825@deg
Ship's Service Generators
two turbo-drive 400Kw 450V A.C.
one turbo-drive 55Kw 120V D.C.
one turbo-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C.

single propeller, 10,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By /Source
	112k	Stern view of *USS Abatan* (AW-4) in dry dock #3 at Mare Island on 23 Jan 1945. Other ships in the photo are USS New Orleans (CA-32) (You can only see her funnels) in dry dock #2 to right of Abatan and ARD-32** with USS Cod (SS-224) in her dock. *ARD-32* is on the quay wall to the far right. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 610-45.	Darryl Baker
	108k	The crew of *USS Abatan* (AW-4)** at quarters during her commissioning ceremonies at Mare Island, 29 Jan 1945. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 691-45.	Darryl Baker
NH 83897	103k	*USS Abatan* (AW-4)** off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 18 February 1945. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #'s NH 83897 NH 83896, NH 83895 and Vallejo History and Naval Museum # 9047.	US Naval History and Heritage Command and
NH 83896	96k
NH 83895	82k
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum # 9047 thanks to Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine	82k
	97k	*USS Abatan* (AW-4)** off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 18 February 1945. The harbor tug Nepanet (YTB-189) is alongside. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 83898	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	113k	*USS Abatan* (AW-4)** at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 20 February 1945. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98913	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	97k	View of *USS Abatan* (AW-4)**'s aft section while at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, 20 February 1945. <1>US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98914	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	145k	Plan view of *USS Abatan* (AW-4)** looking forward from the midships' superstructure, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 20 February 1945. Note hoses stowed by the centerline catwalk, and booms attached to the foremast. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98912.	US Naval Historical Center
	128k	Plan view of *USS Abatan* (AW-4)** looking forward toward the midships' superstructure, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 20 February 1945. Note hoses stowed by the centerline catwalk, and booms attached to the foremast. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98910.	US Naval Historical Center
	167k	Plan view of *USS Abatan* (AW-4)** looking aft from amidships, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 20 February 1945. Note hoses stowed by the centerline catwalk, and booms attached to the foremast. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98911.	US Naval Historical Center
	78k	*USS Abatan* (AW-4) anchored at Ulithi, circa, 21 March 1945 to mid-September 1945. Note LCT-928 and an unidentified LCT secured to Abatan**'s her port side US Navy photo from DANFS. She wears camouflage Measure 32, Design 7AO.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	31k	*USS Abatan* (AW-4)** underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	41k	*USS Abatan* (AW-4)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo, courtesy Tomitch.	Robert Hurst
	138k	Reserve Fleet Basin, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania. Photographed on 19 May 1955 with numerous cruisers, escort carriers, and auxiliaries in reserve. The nearest ship is the never-completed Hawaii (CB-3), which lacks her previously-installed three 12" gun turrets. The cruisers outboard of *Hawaii* are (in unknown order) Honolulu (CL-48), Columbia (CL-56), Denver (CL-58), Galveston (CL-93), and Portsmouth (CL-102). To their left are Tranquility (AH-14), Sanctuary (AH-17), and Pocono (AGC-16). Behind *Hawaii* (from left to right) are Montpelier (CL-57), Houston (CL-81), Huntington (CL-107), Savannah (CL-42), Cleveland (CL-55), and Wilkes-Barre (CL-103). Beyond them (from left to right) are Wichita (CA-45), Oregon City (CA-122), Chester (CA-27), and New Orleans (CA-32). The cruisers on the left side of the basin (from front to rear) are Minneapolis (CA-36), Tuscaloosa (CA-37), San Francisco (CA-38), Augusta (CA-31), Louisville (CA-28), and Portland (CA-33). Among the other ships in reserve in the basin are Fomalhaut (AE-20), Webster (ARV-2), Albemarle (AV-5), Tangier (AV-8), Pocomoke (AV-9), Chandeleur (AV-10), Abatan (AW-4), Mission San Carlos (AO-120), Prince William (CVE-31), Anzio (CVE-57), Block Island (CVE-106), Palau (CVE-122), and San Carlos (AVP-51). Moored in the shipyard at the extreme left are Tennessee (BB-43), California (BB-44), and Cabot (CVL-28). US National Archives Photo # 80-G-668655, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	125k	Abatan (AW-4) and Timmerman (AG-152) laying in reserve at berths next to drydock five in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia, PA. in 1956. Photo by Dave Boone and Dave Schroeder	John Chiquoine
	86k	Abatan (AW-4) at US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1964, while serving as water storage and desalinization ship there. *Abatan* is serving in non-commissioned status, with her guns and other equipment still "mothballed" under covers. Photo released for publication prior to 7 April 1964. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98915	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	102k	Abatan (AW-4) moored pierside at US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 2 March 1964, while she was serving as water storage and desalinization ship there. The original caption states "The ship produces about two million gallons of fresh water daily.". US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98916.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	84k	Abatan (AW-4) moored pierside at US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Navy self-propelled water barge *YW-85* is under tow from Guantanamo Bay, to Ocho Rios for water, 2 March 1964. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 98917.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	953k	Abatan (AW-4), at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 21 Feb 1971.	© Richard Leonhardt
	76k	Abatan (AW-4) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa May 1975.	© Richard Leonhardt
	89k	Abatan (AW-4) moored at US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where she serves as water and fuel storage hulk, 12 June 1978. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # KN-26984 (Color).	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	89k	Aerial view of Ex-*USS Abatan* (AW-4)** moored at US Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba off the Officer's Club ("Como Club") at Deer Point, 28 June 1979. US Naval History and Heritagee Command Photo # NH 98920 by PH1 Leonard L. Sallions.	US Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Abatan (AW-4)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Eriksen, Einor Norman, USNR	29 January 1945 - 9 June 1945
02	LT. Gaboury, John David, USNR	9 June 1945 - July 1945
03	LCDR. Branson, John Joseph USN (USNA 1927)	July 1945 - August 1945
04	LT. Gaboury, John David, USNR	August 1945 - December 1945
05	LCDR. Van Sand, Deter Vincent, USNR	December 1945 - ?


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and R. A. Moody

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation

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Last Updated 15 May 2020