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

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)
ex
USS Mispillion (AO-105) (1945 - 1975)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Mike - Xray NHMX
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Debark (N)ovember - 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 (4) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (8) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Taiwan Straits, 6-Quemoy-Matsu, 1-Vietnam, 4-Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (10)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 14 February 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 2701), at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA.

Launched, 10 August 1945

Commissioned USS Mispillion (AO-105), 29 December 1945, CDR. R. E. Wingler in command

During the Korean War USS Mispillion participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
North Korean Aggression 30 September to 26 October 1950	Second Korean Winter 30 November to 10 December 1951 13 to 21 December 1951 29 December 1951 to 8 January 1952 16 to 29 January 1952 6 to 14 February 1952 9 to 24 April 1952
Communist China Aggression 4 November 1950 to 24 January 1951	Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 5 to 19 May 1952 29 May to 12 June 1952 17 June to 2 July 1952 5 to 12 July 1952 23 July to 7 August 1952
First UN Counter Offensive 25 January to 18 February 1951	Third Korean Winter 10 to 27 December 1952 7 to 18 January 1953 6 to 13 February 1953 22 February 2 March 1953
Communist China Spring Offensive 27 April to 9 May 1951 6 to 21 and 29 to 31 May 1951	Korea Summer-Fall 1953 2 to 11 and 21 to 30 May 1953

Placed in commission in reserve for "Jumboization", 16 April 1965, at Toledo, OH., completed at Boston, MA., and placed in full commission, 6 September 1966

During the Vietnam War USS Mispillion participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 30 April to 10 May 1967 19 to 30 May 1967	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 to 16 and 22 to 31 October 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 5 to 18 June 1967 29 June to 13 July 1967 19 July to 2 August 1967 17 to 28 August 1967 2 to 4 and 11 to 24 September 1967 8 to 20 October 1967 24 October to 5 November 1967	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 1 November 1969 15 November to 6 December 1969 18 to 25 December 1969 1 to 13 January 1970 24 January to 15 February 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 6 to 16 and 21 to 30 June 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 12 to 25 November 1970 1 to 4 and 16 to 29 December 1970 27 to 29 January 1971 2 to 9, 13 to 18 and 24 t o26 February 1971 3 to 11, 15 to 21 and 27 to 30-MAR 1971 4 to 9 April 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 1 to 20 and 27 to 31 July 1968 7 to 23 August 1968 26 August to 3 September 1968 15 to 20 September 1968 19 to 31 October 1968	Consolidation II 18 to 24 March 1972
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 5 to 17 November 1968	Vietnam Ceasefire 4 to 14 and 19 to 24 April 1972 1 to 5, 10 to 14 and 23 to 27 May 1972 5 to 10 and 17 to 23 June 1972 17 to 21 July 1972 27 July to 2 August 1972 12 to 22 August 1972 30 August to 18 September 1972 24 September to 5 October 1972 12 October to 2 November 1972

Decommissioned, 26 July 1974

Placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) in 1975

Placed out of service circa 1994

Struck from the Naval Register, 15 February 1995

USS Mispillion earned eight battle stars for Korean War service and ten campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Custody transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Title transferred, 1 May 1999 to MARAD

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in early 2012, to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., for $1.8 million

Cimmeron Specifications:
Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
Length 553'
Beam 75'
Draft 32'
Speed 18.3 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 22

Enlisted 282

Largest Boom Capacity 10t.

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

NSFO 123,700Bbls

Gasoline 788,000Gals

Fuel Capacity 15,000 Bbls

Propulsion

two Bethlehem geared turbines

four Foster and 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.

two propellers, 13,500shp

"Jumboization" Specifications:
Displacement 12,840 t.(lt) 33,987 t.(fl)
Length 644"
Draft 34' 9"

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
USS Mispillion (AO-105)
091910542	351k	*Namesake* Mispillion - A river flowing to Delaware Bay in southern Delaware. It is approximately 15 miles long and drains an area of 76 square miles on the Atlantic Coastal Plain. It rises in northern Sussex County, approximately 3 miles southwest of Milford, and flows generally east-northeastwardly, defining the boundary between Sussex and Kent counties; it passes through the center of Milford on its course to its mouth at Delaware Bay, 16 miles northwest of Cape Henlopen. The lower 12 miles of the river are considered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be navigable. Photo - The Mispillion River in Milford, Delaware, as viewed downstream from a pedestrian bridge, 30 December 2006.©Tim Kiser		Tommy Trampp

Launching Party including the Ship's Sponsor Mrs. C.E. Feddeman who breaks the traditional bottle Champagne across the bow of Mispillion (AO-105) during the the fleet tanker's christening and launching ceremony, 10 August 1945, at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA. Contributed by Dale Hargrave and Bob Canchola, courtesy Bruce Hevner

091910547
091910551
091910551
091910545
091910548
091910549
091910546
091910550

	84k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** in San Francisco Bay, in "pre-jumboization" configuration, date unknown. US Navy photo from DANFS.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	84k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** in San Francisco Bay, in "pre-jumboization" configuration, date unknown. US Navy photo from DANFS.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	1024k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) replenishing USS Kearsarge (CVA-33)** during rough seas off Korea, 18 December 1952. US Defenseimagery.mil photo # HN-SN-98-07204/80-G-480456, a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery.	Robert Hurst
	86k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** crew photo, circa 1954.	Anonymous Donor
	184k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) refueling USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)** and a destroyer simultaneously while the rest of the carrier groups escorting destroyers wait their turn for a fill-up, October 1959, location unknown. US Navy photo	Tommy Trampp
091910535	142k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) refueling USS Higbee (DD-806)** in 1960 in the Far East. US Navy photo	Chin Yu Chu
	165k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) refueling USS Bennington (CVS-20) at sea, 20 August 1963. USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752)** is taking on fuel from off the oiler's starboard side. Nine Grumman S-2E Tracker and four Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King helicopters of Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 59 (CVSG-59) are visible on *Bennington�s flight deck. US Navy History and Heritage Command photo # NH 97589*, PH2 Hobbs.	Robert Hurst
	95k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** under way off the coast of Oahu, HI., 18 January 1964. US Navy photo by PH2 D. R. Parks, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages	Robert Hurst
	100k	Bow quarter view of *USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** underway in Boston harbor in July 1966, at the completion her Jumboization conversion. Although the insertion of the nearly 100-foot-long additional hull section was performed by a private shipyard, Boston Naval Shipyard completed the conversion. Boston Naval Shipyard photo ASF #5129, Boston National Historical Park, Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-13609..	Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
	100k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** under way off San Diego, CA., after jumboization, circa 1966.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
091910526	101k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS America (CVA-66)** while on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin, circa June-October 1968.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
	148k	View from *USS England* (DLG-22) as she closes with USS Mispillion (AO-105)** for an underway replenishment, WestPac late summer of 1968.	John Spivey
091910532	117k	View from *USS Hancock* (CVA-19) of USS Mispillion (AO-105) during an underway replenishment, WestPac 1968. Note the rotating Union 76 service station ball on the stern of Mispillion**. Photo courtesy David Linhorst	Bob Chanchola
091910533	159k
091910534	100k
	265k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** during an underway replenishment on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin, circa 1968.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
091910952	244k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** during a refueling evolution in the South China Sea a ruptured connection causes fuel to spary out of the hose, December 1968. US National Archives photo # USN 1137098 a US Navy photo by PH2 William M. Hopkins now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Bob Canchola
	708k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) steaming into position for an underway replenishment while "Seadevils" Helicopter Composite Squadron Seven (HC-7) H-46 Sea Knights assigned to USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)** conduct a Vertical Replenishment in the Tonkin Gulf during the Fall of 1969. The ship being served is unknown.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
091910536	620k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) during an underway replenishment on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1970 with USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31)** Series of six photos by William Garner from USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31).	Bob Canchola with permission from William Garner
091910537	548k
091910538	627k
091910539	671k

A Series of six photos by William Garner taken from USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) during and underway replenishment with USS Mispillion (AO-105) on Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1970
Contributed by Bob Canchola with permission from William Garner

091910536
091910537
091910538
091910539
091910540
091910540

091910553 201k USS Mispillion (AO-105) at anchor in a South Vietnam port while transferring petroleum products to barges, circa November 1970.
Photos by Bruce A Hevner USS Mispillionan Bob Chanchola

091910554 157k

091910555 182k USS Mispillion (AO-105) transferring or receiving petroleum products from another Navy oiler believed to be USS Manatee (AO-58) while underway in the South China Sea, circa Novembner-December 1970.
Photo by Bruce A Hevner USS Mispillion Bob Chanchola

091910544 148k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Oriskany (CVA-34) during Oriskany's 1971 WestPac deployment.
Photo by Paul Kohler USS Oriskany Bob Chanchola

091910556 302k USS Mispillion (AO-105) possibly transferring or receiving petroleum products from an unidentified oiler, circa February-March 1971.
Photo from Bruce Hevner #74 USS Mispillion Bob Chanchola
57k USS Mispillion (AO-105) under way, circa 1971, location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
245k USS Mispillion (AO-105) refueling USS Schenectady (LST-1185), circa 1973. Derick Hartshorn
159k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Anchorage (LSD-36), circa 1973. Derick Hartshorn, courtesy Del Loewe
135k USS Mispillion (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Anchorage (LSD-36), with USS White Plains (AFS-4) in the distance, circa 1973. Derick Hartshorn, courtesy Del Loewe

091910543 135k Ship's plaque presented to RADM. (CAPT.) Joseph L. Coleman, USN, Commanding Officer USS Mispillion (AO-105) from 29 September 1967 - 25 September 1968 Tommy Trampp
USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)

NS0241bx 2.37M
Crew members pose for a photo on the bow of USS Midway(CV-41), 16 December 1987, in the Arabian Sea. The photo was taken during the carrier's deployment to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, 15 October 1987–12 April 1988. Various aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 are visible on deck.

Ships in the battle group pictured are, left to right the ammunition ship USS Kilauea (T-AE-26), USS Midway (CVA-41), the combat stores ship USS White Plains (AFS-4), the fleet oiler USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105), and the frigate USS Knox (FF-1052).

Photo by PH3 William Holck, USN. US Defense Imagery photo VIRIN: DN-ST-88-02563
Bob Canchola, BT, USS Oriskany 1971–73
1843k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) refueling USS Leahy (CG-16) and USS Sample (FF-1048), 1 December 1980.
Defenseimagery.mil photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-84-02652.a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery. Robert Hurst
189k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105), in "post-jumboization" configuration, date and location unknown. William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain
President, MSC Retiree Association
644k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) under way, date and location unknown. David Buell
1377k USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) replenishing USS Constellation (CVA-64), and USS Somers (DDG-34), circa 1981-82. Photo by Paul Jarvis USS Constellation
MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet

203k Ex-USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) laid up in reserve in the Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
US Maritime Administration photos Ron Reeves
241k
872k Ex-USS Pigeon (ASR-21) at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 22 January 2012. Ex-Pigeon was there for cleaning before being towed to the International Shipbreaking Ltd. yard for dismantling. Beyond Pigeon is Ex-USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) in Dry Dock #3, also at the yard for cleaning before being towed to ESCO Marine in Brownsville, TX. for dismantling. Photos by Darryl Baker
1071k
979k Ex-USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105) in Dry Dock #3 at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 22 January 2012. Mispillion was there for cleaning prior to being towed to Brownsville, TX. for dismantling by ESCO Marine. Photo by Darryl Baker

USS Mispillion Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Mike Smolinski

For more photos and information about USS / USNS Mispillion, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
MARAD Vessel History Database
USS Mispillion (AO-105) Memorabilia

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Wingler, Ray E.	29 December 1945 - 5 April 1946
02	CDR. Johnson, Doir Curtis	5 April 1946 - 23 February 1947
03	CAPT. Lackner, Peter Robert	23 February 1947 - 16 February 1948
04	CAPT. Harrison, Charles Edward	16 February 1948 - 4 January 1949
05	CAPT. Zahm, John Crawford	4 January 1949 - 20 December 1949
06	CAPT. Stillman, Carl Frederick	20 December 1949 - 1 December 1950
07	CAPT. Flenniken, James Alexander	1 December 1950 - 5 August 1952
08	CAPT. Munson, Henry Glass	5 August 1952 - 6 July 1953
09	CAPT. Jewett Jr., Garry William	6 July 1953 - 13 July 1954
10	CAPT. Cairnes, George Henry	13 July 1954 - 11 October 1955
11	CAPT. Denton, James Boyce	11 October 1955 - 8 November 1956
12	CAPT. Stephan, Charles Robert	8 November 1956 - 3 December 1957
13	CAPT. Holcombe, Charles Mortimer	3 December 1957 - 11 March 1959
14	CAPT. Dierman, Frederick George	11 March 1959 - 18 March 1960
15	CAPT. Dos�, Robert George	18 Marhc 1960 - 24 March 1961
16	CAPT. Gibson, Jack Eugene	24 March 1961 - 7 March 1962
17	CAPT. Ringness, William Merritt	7 March 1962 - 11 April 1963
18	CAPT. Houston, Joseph Allan	11 April 1963 - 13 May 1964
19	CAPT. Pardee, William McKnight	13 May 1964 - 15 March 1966
20	CAPT. Oller Jr., John Secrist	15 March 1966 - 24 March 1967
21	CAPT. Van Lier Ribbink, Edvard Frederick, USN	24 March 1967 - 29 September 1967
22	CAPT. Coleman, Joseph Lustrat, USN :RADM	29 September 1967 - 25 September 1968
23	CAPT. Taylor, David Junior	25 September 1968 - December 1969
24	CAPT. Toole Jr., Wycliffe David (Wick) :RADM	December 1969 - December 1970
25	CAPT. Barker, Harold Drake USN	December 1970 - 13 April 1972
26	CDR. MacLean, Robert Evers	13 April 1972 - 10 December 1973
27	CDR. Fitzwilliam, Peter Kaufmann, USN (USNA 1956)	10 December 1973 - 26 July 1974


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Fleet Tankers Association
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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

Last Updated 11 March 2022

091910553	201k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** at anchor in a South Vietnam port while transferring petroleum products to barges, circa November 1970. Photos by Bruce A Hevner USS Mispillionan	Bob Chanchola
091910554	157k		Bob Chanchola
091910555	182k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) transferring or receiving petroleum products from another Navy oiler believed to be USS Manatee (AO-58)** while underway in the South China Sea, circa Novembner-December 1970. Photo by Bruce A Hevner USS Mispillion	Bob Chanchola
091910544	148k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Oriskany (CVA-34) during Oriskany'*s 1971 WestPac deployment. Photo by Paul Kohler USS Oriskany*	Bob Chanchola
091910556	302k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** possibly transferring or receiving petroleum products from an unidentified oiler, circa February-March 1971. Photo from Bruce Hevner #74 USS Mispillion	Bob Chanchola
	57k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** under way, circa 1971, location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	245k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) refueling USS Schenectady (LST-1185)**, circa 1973.	Derick Hartshorn
	159k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Anchorage (LSD-36)**, circa 1973.	Derick Hartshorn, courtesy Del Loewe
	135k	*USS Mispillion* (AO-105) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Anchorage (LSD-36), with USS White Plains (AFS-4)** in the distance, circa 1973.	Derick Hartshorn, courtesy Del Loewe
091910543	135k	Ship's plaque presented to RADM. (CAPT.) Joseph L. Coleman, USN, Commanding Officer *USS Mispillion* (AO-105)** from 29 September 1967 - 25 September 1968	Tommy Trampp
USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)
NS0241bx	2.37M	Crew members pose for a photo on the bow of *USS Midway(CV-41), 16 December 1987, in the Arabian Sea. The photo was taken during the carrier's deployment to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, 15 October 1987–12 April 1988. Various aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 are visible on deck. Ships in the battle group pictured are, left to right the ammunition ship USS Kilauea* (T-AE-26), USS Midway (CVA-41), the combat stores ship USS White Plains (AFS-4), the fleet oiler USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105), and the frigate USS Knox (FF-1052)**. Photo by PH3 William Holck, USN. US Defense Imagery photo VIRIN: DN-ST-88-02563	Bob Canchola, BT, USS Oriskany 1971–73
	1843k	*USNS Mispillion* (T-AO-105) refueling USS Leahy (CG-16) and USS Sample (FF-1048)*, 1 December 1980. Defenseimagery.mil photo # VIRIN: DN-SC-84-02652*.a US Navy photo now in the collections of Defense Imagery.	Robert Hurst
	189k	*USNS Mispillion* (T-AO-105)**, in "post-jumboization" configuration, date and location unknown.	William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain President, MSC Retiree Association
	644k	*USNS Mispillion* (T-AO-105)** under way, date and location unknown.	David Buell
	1377k	*USNS Mispillion* (T-AO-105) replenishing USS Constellation (CVA-64), and USS Somers (DDG-34)**, circa 1981-82.	Photo by Paul Jarvis USS Constellation
MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet
	203k	Ex-*USNS Mispillion* (T-AO-105)** laid up in reserve in the Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. US Maritime Administration photos	Ron Reeves
	241k		Ron Reeves
	872k	Ex-*USS Pigeon* (ASR-21) at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 22 January 2012. Ex-Pigeon was there for cleaning before being towed to the International Shipbreaking Ltd. yard for dismantling. Beyond Pigeon is Ex-USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)** in Dry Dock #3, also at the yard for cleaning before being towed to ESCO Marine in Brownsville, TX. for dismantling.	Photos by Darryl Baker
	1071k		Photos by Darryl Baker
	979k	Ex-*USNS Mispillion* (T-AO-105) in Dry Dock #3 at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 22 January 2012. Mispillion** was there for cleaning prior to being towed to Brownsville, TX. for dismantling by ESCO Marine.	Photo by Darryl Baker

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)ex USS Mispillion (AO-105) (1945 - 1975)

USNS Mispillion (T-AO-105)
ex
USS Mispillion (AO-105) (1945 - 1975)