Search the Site with

General Characteristics

Crew List

Memorabilia

Accidents aboard the Ship

History

Image Gallery

to end of page

USNS Waccamaw (T-AO 109)

USNS WACCAMAW originally was a MARAD standard type T3-S2-A3 oiler. She received a "jumboization" conversion in the mid-1960s. Commissioned in 1946, the WACCAMAW was the first ship in the Navy named after the river in South Carolina. Transfered to the Military Sealift Command around 1975, the WACCAMAW was eventually decommissioned in 1989 and stricken from the Navy list in 1991. On August 26, 2005, a disposal contract was awarded to International Shipbreaking Limited of Brownsville, Texas.

back to top

go to the end of the page

back to top

go to the end of the page

Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS WACCAMAW. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

• Click here to view the list.

back to top

go to the end of the page

• Click here to see which USNS WACCAMAW memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

back to top

go to the end of the page

Accidents aboard USS / USNS WACCAMAW:

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS / USNS WACCAMAW History:

WACCAMAW was built as a Maritime Commission type T3-S2-A3 tanker under Maritime Commission hull number 2705. Her keel was laid by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Chester, Pennsylvania, on April 28, 1945. She was launched on March 30, 1946, sponsored by Miss Irene F. Long, and commissioned on June 25, 1946, with Captain Guy W. Stringer in command. Her commissioning took place more than ten months after the end of World War II, when the Navy was reducing its wartime forces while retaining a substantial logistical organization to support overseas operations.

Following commissioning, WACCAMAW underwent shakedown training and operational preparations at Norfolk, Virginia, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A photograph dated July 16, 1946, shows the newly commissioned tanker at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, riding high in the water with relatively little cargo aboard. After completing her initial training, she began operating as a petroleum transport between the Persian Gulf and the United States. For approximately two years, the tanker carried oil from the Persian Gulf to American receiving facilities. These voyages formed part of the Navy's postwar effort to maintain dependable sources of petroleum supplies for its ships and shore establishments.

During 1947 and the first part of 1948, WACCAMAW continued the transportation of petroleum products between the Middle East and the United States. The Navy was adapting its fuel distribution system to the requirements of peacetime naval deployments, and the Persian Gulf remained an important source of petroleum.

In September 1948, WACCAMAW was assigned to the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. The deployment marked a change from her initial long-distance petroleum transportation duties to direct support of operational naval forces. American naval activity in the Mediterranean had increased during the early Cold War as the United States developed closer political and military relations with countries in southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Greece and Turkey were receiving American assistance, and the Navy maintained a continuing presence in waters connecting Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. WACCAMAW's service during this deployment included qualifying occupation duty in European waters from September 15, 1948, through January 7, 1949. Her assignment involved supporting the fuel requirements of American warships operating with the Sixth Fleet.

After completing her Mediterranean assignment, WACCAMAW returned to the western Atlantic. During the spring of 1949, she operated with the Second Fleet and participated in exercises in the Caribbean. These maneuvers provided training in fleet operations and replenishment procedures while allowing the Navy to maintain the readiness of ships assigned to its Atlantic forces. On June 18, 1949, WACCAMAW was photographed at anchor off Newport, Rhode Island, establishing her presence at the Atlantic Fleet anchorage during this period.

During the opening months of 1950, WACCAMAW made another deployment to the Mediterranean. Her recognized European occupation service for the year extended from January 16 through March 15. She continued supplying ships of the Sixth Fleet during a period when American naval forces were becoming increasingly integrated into the defense arrangements of Western Europe. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established in April 1949, was developing military structures and plans intended to coordinate the defense of its member countries.

Following her second Mediterranean deployment, WACCAMAW resumed Atlantic Fleet duties. The outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, increased the demands on the Navy's worldwide logistical organization. Although WACCAMAW remained primarily associated with the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets rather than the Korean operating area, the conflict contributed to the continuing need to maintain naval forces in several regions simultaneously.

On December 11, 1950, WACCAMAW was designated for conversion to a replenishment oiler under the hull classification AOR 109. The proposed conversion was not carried out, and the ship returned to her original AO 109 classification on May 7, 1951. She therefore continued serving as a fleet oiler without the additional capabilities associated with the later AOR category.

During 1951, WACCAMAW completed her third Mediterranean deployment. The assignment lasted approximately nine months, making it substantially longer than her preceding tours. Her recognized occupation service included January 20 through May 8, 1951. The extended deployment required repeated fuel transfers to American naval vessels operating across the Mediterranean theater. These operations supported the sustained presence of American carrier and surface forces during a period when the Korean War and wider Cold War commitments placed considerable demands on the Navy. Following her return to the United States, WACCAMAW entered Boston Naval Shipyard in 1952 for an overhaul. The shipyard period involved repairs and maintenance necessary after her prolonged deployment. Work on her propulsion machinery, fueling installations and supporting equipment was followed by preparations for renewed operational service.

During 1952, WACCAMAW also participated in the development of the Thompson-Arwood method of fueling destroyers at sea in heavy weather. The technique was intended to improve the reliability and safety of transferring fuel between ships under difficult sea conditions. Replenishment operations required the receiving vessel to maintain a relatively constant position alongside the tanker while hoses and supporting gear remained connected. Heavy seas and strong winds complicated these maneuvers, particularly when supplying smaller combatants such as destroyers. WACCAMAW's participation in the development work formed part of the Navy's efforts to improve underway replenishment procedures.

Her recognized occupation service for 1952 included July 29 through November 1. WACCAMAW continued supporting naval operations in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. During 1953, WACCAMAW undertook her first Naval Academy midshipman training cruise. The voyage included a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland. Midshipman cruises combined practical shipboard training with operations at sea and visits to foreign ports. The students gained experience in navigation, shiphandling, seamanship and the routine operation of a commissioned naval vessel.

A photograph attributed to approximately 1953 shows WACCAMAW entering or operating within Grand Harbour at Valletta, Malta. Malta was an important Mediterranean naval support location, and its harbor was regularly visited by British and American naval forces. The image provides evidence of WACCAMAW's presence at Valletta during her early Mediterranean career. Her qualifying European occupation service during 1953 included July 27 through August 8.

During the summer of 1954, WACCAMAW returned to the Mediterranean for her fourth deployment with the Sixth Fleet. Her recognized occupation service extended from May 16 through September 20, 1954. The deployment involved the usual pattern of underway replenishment and logistical support to naval units operating in the region. American carriers and surface combatants continued maintaining a naval presence in the Mediterranean as NATO expanded its exercise programs and developed arrangements for combined maritime operations.

Following her fourth Mediterranean deployment, WACCAMAW resumed logistical operations in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. Photographs dated November 16, 1954, show her operating off Newport, Rhode Island. The images establish her presence in the Newport area after the completion of the summer deployment.

In 1955, WACCAMAW made her second midshipman training cruise. The voyage included visits to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Edinburgh, Scotland. These visits provided opportunities for naval training and contact with allied ports during the cruise. After the training assignment, the tanker returned to regular Atlantic Fleet operations. During the autumn of 1955, WACCAMAW entered Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for an overhaul. The work was intended to maintain the operational condition of the vessel's machinery, hull and replenishment systems. Following completion of the shipyard period, she proceeded to the Caribbean during the spring of 1956 for further training.

In June and July 1956, WACCAMAW conducted her third midshipman cruise, which included a visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Canadian port was an important naval base and a regular destination for American vessels participating in training activities in the North Atlantic. The cruise provided practical training for the embarked midshipmen while keeping the tanker engaged in fleet operations. At the end of July 1956, WACCAMAW departed for her fifth Mediterranean deployment. The assignment took place during the developing Suez Crisis, which resulted from Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser's nationalization of the Suez Canal Company and the subsequent confrontation involving Egypt, Britain, France and Israel. The canal was strategically important to international shipping, including the movement of petroleum from the Middle East.

The crisis escalated during October 1956 when Israeli forces entered the Sinai Peninsula and British and French forces subsequently intervened against Egypt. The fighting threatened shipping and the safety of foreign nationals in the affected region. American naval forces in the Mediterranean prepared to support evacuation operations and maintain a naval presence during the confrontation. WACCAMAW provided logistical support to ships involved in the evacuation of personnel from Haifa, Israel, and Alexandria, Egypt. Her responsibility was to supply fuel to the naval vessels carrying out these assignments. The tanker's presence helped sustain ships operating near the eastern Mediterranean coast during a period when the military situation and access to ports were uncertain.

A Navy photograph dated September 12, 1956, shows WACCAMAW anchored in the Mediterranean among other American naval auxiliaries and warships. The vessels identified in the same anchorage included USS CASCADE (AD 16), USS CHARLES S. SPERRY (DD 697), USS MOALE (DD 693), USS POMPON (SSR 267), USS RANDOLPH (CVA 15) and USS MISSISSINEWA (AO 144). The photograph documents WACCAMAW's presence within a substantial American naval support and combatant formation during the months preceding the most intense phase of the Suez Crisis.

The deployment was extended because of the emergency. WACCAMAW remained in the Mediterranean until January 1957, continuing to support American naval operations associated with the crisis and its aftermath. The extension of her tour reflected the continuing requirement for logistical vessels to remain available as American naval forces monitored the ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign troops from Egyptian territory.

After returning from the Mediterranean, WACCAMAW operated in the Caribbean for approximately two months. Her activities included replenishment support and training assignments with Atlantic Fleet units. These operations were conducted as the Navy resumed its regular training schedule following the demands of the Suez deployment.

On June 12 and 13, 1957, WACCAMAW participated in the International Naval Review at Norfolk, Virginia. The event brought together naval vessels in a formal review associated with the Jamestown anniversary commemorations. Following the review, WACCAMAW departed on her fourth midshipman cruise, which included visits to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Aruba in the Dutch West Indies. The visit to Rio de Janeiro placed the tanker in a major South American port during a training voyage extending beyond the normal Atlantic Fleet operating areas. Aruba, an island in the southern Caribbean with important petroleum facilities, was another port of call during the cruise.

During September and October 1957, WACCAMAW participated in NATO's autumn naval exercises as a member of the underway replenishment group. The maneuvers brought together naval forces from several member countries to practice coordinated maritime operations. WACCAMAW supplied fuel to participating vessels, allowing the multinational formation to continue its exercises without repeated returns to port. During this period, WACCAMAW was recorded as the last oiler to replenish the battleship USS WISCONSIN (BB 64) before that ship left active service. She also became the first oiler to refuel the new large aircraft carriers USS FORRESTAL (CVA 59) and USS SARATOGA (CVA 60). These replenishments reflected the change in the composition of the American fleet during the 1950s, as conventional gun-armed capital ships were withdrawn and large jet aircraft carriers assumed an increasingly important role in naval operations.

The newer carriers placed substantial demands on the fleet's aviation fuel supply system. Their embarked jet aircraft consumed large quantities of fuel, and the carriers themselves required regular replenishment during prolonged deployments. WACCAMAW's operations with these ships were an early example of the increased requirements that would eventually contribute to the Navy's decision to enlarge its fleet oilers.

During the winter of 1957-1958, WACCAMAW underwent another overhaul at Boston Naval Shipyard. After completing maintenance, she proceeded to Guantanamo Bay for refresher training. The training period was intended to restore the crew's proficiency in engineering operations, damage control, seamanship, gunnery and underway replenishment following the extended shipyard availability.

During the spring of 1958, WACCAMAW provided logistical support to antisubmarine warfare groups operating in the western Atlantic. These formations generally included an aircraft carrier equipped for antisubmarine operations and accompanying destroyers or other surface combatants. Their exercises concentrated on locating, tracking and countering submarines, reflecting NATO's concern about the increasing size and capabilities of the Soviet submarine fleet.

WACCAMAW subsequently returned to the Mediterranean for another deployment with the Sixth Fleet. During this cruise, she supported American naval operations connected with the intervention in Lebanon. Political and sectarian tensions in Lebanon had intensified during the spring of 1958, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered American military forces into the country after the Iraqi monarchy was overthrown in July. On July 15, 1958, United States Marines began landing near Beirut under Operation Blue Bat. American naval forces provided amphibious transport, air cover, command facilities and logistical support for the intervention. WACCAMAW supplied fuel to ships involved in the operation, allowing the naval force to maintain its presence off the Lebanese coast and conduct its assigned activities. WACCAMAW returned to Newport, Rhode Island, in November 1958. Following her return, she spent December in a period of reduced operational activity, leave and upkeep.

In January 1959, WACCAMAW resumed fueling assignments with Destroyer Flotilla 2. She subsequently proceeded south to the Virgin Islands, where she remained until the end of March. The assignment placed her in the Caribbean region during the Atlantic Fleet's regular winter training period.

On April 20, 1959, WACCAMAW departed for another Mediterranean deployment. This was her seventh tour with the Sixth Fleet, but it was shorter than her previous assignments. She returned to Newport in June after completing her duties in the Mediterranean. Following her return, WACCAMAW resumed support for antisubmarine warfare forces operating in the western Atlantic. The growing importance of antisubmarine warfare required replenishment vessels to remain available to carrier groups and escorts conducting exercises far from their homeports. The tanker's ability to supply ships at sea allowed these formations to remain in their assigned operating areas.

In November 1959, WACCAMAW entered Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in New York for an overhaul. During January 1960, a labor-management dispute interrupted the shipyard work. The tanker was moved by tugs to the New York Naval Shipyard at Brooklyn, where the overhaul was completed in April 1960. The transfer between shipyards allowed the remaining work to be finished despite the disruption at Bethlehem Steel. After completion of the overhaul, WACCAMAW proceeded to Guantanamo Bay for refresher training. She then returned to Newport and embarked eighteen midshipmen from several eastern colleges for a training cruise in Atlantic waters.

Following the midshipman cruise, WACCAMAW underwent an eight-day tender availability at Newport. She subsequently departed for her eighth Mediterranean deployment with the Sixth Fleet. During this deployment, WACCAMAW became the first United States naval vessel to visit the newly independent Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus gained independence from British administration on August 16, 1960. The American naval visit occurred during the country's initial period of independence and formed part of the Navy's routine program of foreign port visits and diplomatic presence. WACCAMAW remained assigned to the Sixth Fleet through the following winter. Her duties continued to include fuel deliveries and underway replenishment for naval vessels operating across the Mediterranean. She returned to Newport on February 25, 1961, and began a period of leave and upkeep.

During the spring of 1961, WACCAMAW supported Second Fleet operations and conducted her sixth midshipman training cruise. Her assignments combined practical training with the logistical duties of a fleet oiler. In August she underwent a tender availability to complete maintenance and repairs. In September 1961, WACCAMAW conducted a one-day dependents' cruise. These cruises allowed family members of naval personnel to experience shipboard life and observe some of the procedures involved in operating a naval vessel. The cruise was carried out between the tanker's regular operational assignments.

During October 1961, WACCAMAW supported a newly organized antisubmarine warfare group operating in the eastern Atlantic. The group's activities were associated with the Navy's continuing development of coordinated antisubmarine tactics involving surface ships, submarines and aircraft. The deployment covered approximately 11,800 miles and continued until shortly before Christmas. WACCAMAW returned to the United States in December and began preparations for another major overhaul. The extended Atlantic operations had required substantial use of her propulsion machinery and replenishment equipment.

WACCAMAW entered Bethlehem Steel Shipyard at Hoboken, New Jersey, for the overhaul. The work continued into the spring of 1962. After completing the shipyard period in April, the tanker proceeded to Guantanamo Bay for refresher training. During June 1962, WACCAMAW resumed logistical support for the Second Fleet. Her work involved replenishment exercises and fuel deliveries to ships operating along the American Atlantic coast. Following the training period, she prepared for another overseas deployment.

In August 1962, WACCAMAW departed for her ninth Mediterranean tour. During the eastbound passage, she participated in Operation Riptide, a fleet exercise involving major American naval units, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65). ENTERPRISE had been commissioned in November 1961 and represented a significant development in American carrier propulsion. Although the carrier could operate without conventional propulsion fuel, her embarked aircraft and accompanying conventionally powered escorts continued to require substantial logistical support.

WACCAMAW's participation in Operation Riptide included replenishment support for ships involved in the exercise. After completing the Atlantic passage, she resumed her duties with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. During the Christmas holiday period of 1962, WACCAMAW was at Golfe-Juan, France. While in port, the crew organized a Christmas party for approximately fifty orphaned children. WACCAMAW continued supporting the Sixth Fleet during the opening months of 1963. She departed the Mediterranean and returned to Newport, Rhode Island, on March 2, 1963, completing the deployment that had begun the previous August.

During the spring of 1963, WACCAMAW conducted a dependents' cruise and participated in the search for the nuclear-powered submarine USS THRESHER (SSN 593). THRESHER was lost on April 10, 1963, while conducting deep-diving trials in the Atlantic approximately 220 nautical miles east of Cape Cod. The submarine's loss resulted in the deaths of all 129 men aboard and prompted an extensive search and subsequent investigation. WACCAMAW was among the ships providing support during the search operation. The loss of THRESHER also led the Navy to review submarine construction, maintenance and quality assurance procedures. The subsequent Submarine Safety Program was developed to improve the reliability of critical systems and reduce the risk of similar accidents. WACCAMAW's documented participation was in the search and supporting operations, not in the underwater investigation that continued after the loss had been confirmed.

During the period from March through June 1963, WACCAMAW also made two deployments totaling approximately five weeks with Canadian antisubmarine warfare forces. These operations formed part of the continuing cooperation between the American and Canadian navies in the North Atlantic, particularly in the detection and tracking of submarines.

Late in July 1963, WACCAMAW departed Newport for approximately six weeks of Caribbean operations. She supported Commander, Antisubmarine Warfare Forces, Atlantic Fleet, embarked aboard RANDOLPH, by then classified CVS 15. The carrier operated with five escorting destroyers, and WACCAMAW replenished the carrier and her escorts on ten occasions during the deployment. After completing the Caribbean assignment, WACCAMAW stopped at Norfolk and underwent an operational readiness inspection, which she completed successfully. She subsequently returned to Newport and spent much of the autumn in port, interrupted by shorter operational assignments and training periods.

During November 1963, WACCAMAW underwent her administrative inspection for fiscal year 1964. At the same time, preparations were underway for the most extensive reconstruction of her career. The Navy had selected WACCAMAW and USS NAVASOTA (AO 106) as the first two fleet oilers to undergo a major enlargement program intended to increase petroleum capacity and modernize underway replenishment systems.

The reconstruction was part of the Navy's effort to extend the useful lives of selected World War II-era auxiliary vessels. Rather than building entirely new ships, the Navy planned to retain the existing bow, stern, machinery spaces and midships superstructure while replacing the original cargo-carrying portion of the hull with a substantially larger section. On June 10, 1963, the Kawasaki Dockyard Company at Kobe, Japan, began construction of the new midbody intended for WACCAMAW. The replacement cargo section was launched on September 28, 1963. It was subsequently transported across the Pacific Ocean to Seattle, Washington, for installation.

WACCAMAW departed Newport on January 27, 1964, bound for the Pacific coast and the conversion yard. She arrived in the Puget Sound area on February 21. Preliminary preparations were carried out at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, including the removal and redistribution of equipment and material that would interfere with the conversion. The ship was subsequently moved without the use of her own propulsion to the Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock Company facility at Seattle. On March 2, 1964, the major reconstruction work officially began. WACCAMAW was placed in the administrative status of in commission, in reserve, for the conversion period. Most of her crew was detached, leaving a nucleus party of four officers and thirty-five enlisted personnel.

The conversion contract had been awarded on March 7, 1963, with the associated agreement formally concluded the following day. The work on WACCAMAW and NAVASOTA was carried out under a combined contract valued initially at approximately $14.95 million. The contract covered the substantial structural reconstruction and installation of new equipment, with additional expenditures possible for changes ordered during the work. WACCAMAW was moved into a sectional floating dry dock, where the original hull was cut into major sections. The bow was separated from the central cargo section, and the after portion of the vessel was moved away. The newly constructed midbody was then positioned adjacent to the retained bow, raised into place and welded to the original structure.

The replacement cargo section was approximately 394 feet long and incorporated tank arrangements designed to increase WACCAMAW's petroleum capacity by roughly fifty percent. The new section was substantially larger than the original cargo-carrying midbody and was designed to accommodate improved fuel distribution and replenishment systems. One of the major stages of the conversion involved moving the original midships superstructure. The deckhouse, weighing approximately 190 tons, was lifted from the old central section and placed onto the new midbody. The ship's existing stern, which contained the main propulsion machinery, was then separated from the obsolete central structure.

After the original cargo section had been removed, the new midbody, attached to the bow and supporting the relocated superstructure, was joined to the retained stern. The reconstruction required substantial welding and structural work to integrate the sections into a single hull. Major changes were also made to the stern and steering arrangements. The alterations included a new counterbalanced rudder, revised structural supports, shorter propeller shafts and new stern tubes. These modifications were intended to improve maneuverability and compensate for the increased length and underwater volume of the reconstructed tanker.

The ship's replenishment equipment was extensively modernized. New kingposts and outriggers were installed, together with ram-tensioned span wires and highlines for transferring fuel and cargo while underway. The arrangements included heavy-weather rigs, new lightweight fuel hoses and equipment designed to maintain proper tension as ships moved in response to wind and sea conditions. The old steam-operated replenishment winches were replaced with electrohydraulic machinery. Larger electrically driven cargo pumps and improved cargo pipelines increased the rate at which fuel could be transferred to receiving ships. Double-hose fueling rigs were fitted on the port side for supplying large combatants, and the arrangements allowed WACCAMAW to support ships on both sides simultaneously.

The improved systems provided a combined theoretical maximum liquid-cargo transfer rate of approximately 1.4 million U.S. gallons per hour under suitable conditions. Actual transfer rates depended on the receiving ships, the cargo being delivered and the operating conditions. An auxiliary diesel generator plant capable of producing approximately 4,500 kilowatts was installed to supply electrical power for the new cargo pumps and deck machinery. This reduced the demand placed on the steam propulsion plant during replenishment and allowed the tanker to maintain higher speeds while transferring fuel.

The reconstruction also incorporated improved enclosed storage for fleet freight, mail and other supplies. A helicopter pickup area was provided on the forward weather deck, allowing small cargo loads and personnel to be transferred by helicopter. The arrangement supplemented the ship's alongside replenishment capability.

Living and working spaces were modernized during the conversion. The improvements included air conditioning for living and office areas, renovated berthing spaces, a new ship's store, a library, a barber shop and improved laundry facilities. Changes to piping arrangements also increased usable working space and reduced obstructions in the cargo-handling areas.

The enlarged tanker measured approximately 644 feet in overall length, an increase of about 91 feet over her original configuration. Her maximum draft increased to approximately 35 feet 9 inches, and her full-load displacement rose to approximately 35,000 tons. She retained her original steam turbine propulsion machinery and twin propellers. Although the larger hull increased the vessel's displacement, the modernized equipment allowed her to conduct replenishment operations at approximately 15 to 16 knots under suitable conditions.

The main structural conversion work was carried out during 1964, followed by fitting out, testing and completion of associated systems. On February 16, 1965, WACCAMAW was photographed underway near the Puget Sound Bridge and Dry Dock facility at approximately sixteen knots during the final phase of the project. On February 26, 1965, WACCAMAW returned to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, where her administrative status was changed from in commission, in reserve, to in commission, active. The conversion was officially completed on that date. This change represented the restoration of full active commissioned status rather than a new commissioning after complete decommissioning.

After fitting out and preparations for sea, WACCAMAW departed the Puget Sound area and proceeded south along the Pacific coast. She arrived at San Diego on April 23, 1965. The passage provided an opportunity to evaluate the performance of the enlarged hull and reconstructed machinery under operating conditions. WACCAMAW subsequently proceeded southward, visiting Acapulco, Mexico, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before returning to Newport, Rhode Island, on May 12, 1965. The voyage took the tanker from the Pacific to the Atlantic following the completion of her reconstruction.

Between May 14 and June 17, 1965, WACCAMAW conducted shakedown training at Guantanamo Bay. This training was particularly important because the ship had undergone major structural and mechanical alterations. The exercises allowed the crew to practice the operation of the modernized replenishment machinery and to identify deficiencies requiring correction. After completing shakedown, WACCAMAW proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia, which became her new homeport. She underwent a period of upkeep and acceptance trials before further shipyard work.

On July 13, 1965, WACCAMAW departed for Boston Naval Shipyard, where she entered a post-shakedown availability. The yard period lasted from July 19 through November 9 and involved correcting deficiencies identified during trials and completing work associated with the reconstruction. WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk on November 14, 1965. During the following weeks she conducted type training and provided replenishment support for the primary recovery force assigned to the Gemini VI and Gemini VII space missions.

Gemini VII was launched on December 4, 1965, and Gemini VI-A followed on December 15. The two spacecraft completed the first crewed rendezvous in Earth orbit on December 15. The Navy provided ships and aircraft to support the recovery operations. WACCAMAW's assignment was to supply fuel to vessels associated with the recovery force. The tanker returned to Norfolk on December 19, 1965, and spent the remaining days of the year conducting training, servicing other ships and completing preparations for further operational assignments.

On January 10, 1966, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk for the Caribbean to participate in Operation Springboard. The exercise was part of the Atlantic Fleet's winter training program and involved numerous ships operating in Caribbean waters. During Operation Springboard, WACCAMAW replenished forty-two ships. She also conducted gunnery exercises and additional at-sea trials. These operations tested both the ship's modernized replenishment equipment and the crew's ability to conduct sustained operations following the conversion. WACCAMAW returned to Craney Island, Virginia, on February 4, 1966, to replenish her cargo and prepare for further duties. She subsequently operated in the Virginia Capes area and began preparations for her next Mediterranean deployment.

On May 4, 1966, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk for the Mediterranean Sea. She became the first of the enlarged jumboized fleet oilers to operate with the Sixth Fleet. The deployment provided the opportunity to use her increased cargo capacity and modernized replenishment systems during sustained overseas operations. During the cruise, WACCAMAW steamed more than 20,000 miles, replenished 256 ships and transferred more than 32 million gallons of fuel oil. The figures represented a substantial operating workload and demonstrated the importance of fleet tankers in supporting American carrier and surface formations in the Mediterranean.

A photograph dated July 28, 1966, documents WACCAMAW underway in the Mediterranean following her reconstruction. Her enlarged midbody, modernized replenishment masts and altered hull configuration were clearly visible. During the deployment, WACCAMAW operated with American and allied naval forces engaged in regular Sixth Fleet exercises and operations. Her activities occurred against the background of continued political tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and the developing confrontation between NATO and Soviet naval forces in the region. WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk Naval Station on October 20, 1966. Following her arrival, she proceeded to Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth, Virginia, for repairs. The work included correcting minor damage sustained in a collision with the destroyer USS NOA (DD 841).

After completing the repairs, WACCAMAW resumed Atlantic Fleet operations. On November 28, 1966, she participated in Exercise Lantflex 66 in the Caribbean. The exercise provided additional training in fleet operations and logistical support under simulated operational conditions. WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk Naval Station on December 15, 1966. She remained in port through the end of the year for tender availability, holiday leave and upkeep.

During the opening months of 1967, WACCAMAW continued supporting Second Fleet ships and loading petroleum products at Craney Island. Her assignments included underway replenishment training and support for naval vessels preparing for overseas deployment.

On February 27, 1967, WACCAMAW departed to accompany six destroyers across the Atlantic toward the Azores. The operation involved replenishment support during the passage. She returned on March 21 and prepared for another training assignment. WACCAMAW departed again on April 10, 1967, to participate in Operation Clovehitch III. The exercise continued through the end of April and involved operational training with Atlantic Fleet units. WACCAMAW provided fuel support for the participating vessels.

On May 1, 1967, WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk for upkeep and tender availability. Maintenance was carried out on equipment requiring attention after the preceding deployment and training period. On June 12, 1967, WACCAMAW departed for a midshipman training cruise to the Caribbean. The cruise combined practical training with shipboard operations and visits associated with the program. After completing the assignment, she returned to Norfolk for upkeep.

Photographic documentation from 1967 also records a helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 4 transferring mail to WACCAMAW. The operation demonstrated the use of the helicopter transfer area incorporated during her reconstruction. Helicopter-supported transfers allowed mail, personnel and smaller cargo loads to be delivered without requiring the tanker to come alongside another vessel.

On July 24, 1967, WACCAMAW participated in NATO Exercise Lashout. The maneuver involved allied naval forces conducting operations in the Atlantic. Her role was to provide underway replenishment support and maintain fuel supplies for ships taking part in the exercise. Following Exercise Lashout, WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk and prepared for her annual administrative and operational readiness inspections. The administrative inspection was completed on August 28, and the operational readiness inspection followed on September 12.

Between October 6 and October 27, 1967, WACCAMAW underwent a tender availability at Norfolk Naval Base. The maintenance period provided an opportunity to correct defects and prepare the ship for another extended overseas assignment. On November 13, 1967, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk for her eleventh Mediterranean deployment. She resumed operations with the Sixth Fleet, providing fuel to aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other vessels conducting exercises and maintaining an American naval presence in the region. At the end of December 1967, WACCAMAW was at Naples, Italy, for a holiday liberty and upkeep period. Naples was an important support location for the Sixth Fleet and provided facilities for personnel visits, maintenance and logistics.

The deployment continued into the spring of 1968. WACCAMAW remained engaged in replenishment operations and other assigned logistical services before departing the Mediterranean and returning to Norfolk on April 23, 1968. On May 28, 1968, WACCAMAW participated in the search for the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS SCORPION (SSN 589). SCORPION had failed to return from a Mediterranean deployment and was declared overdue on May 27. The submarine was subsequently confirmed lost in the Atlantic southwest of the Azores, with all ninety-nine men aboard.

The Navy organized an extensive search involving ships, aircraft and other resources. WACCAMAW supported the search operation as part of the naval force assigned to the area. Her documented participation was connected with the search for the missing submarine, not with the later deep-ocean investigation of the wreck. Following the search assignment, WACCAMAW resumed regular exercises in the Jacksonville, Florida, and Virginia Capes operating areas. These activities included underway replenishment training and support for Atlantic Fleet formations.

During the autumn of 1968, WACCAMAW participated in NATO Exercise Silvertower with British and Canadian naval forces. The exercise involved multinational naval operations in the Atlantic and emphasized cooperation among allied surface ships and supporting units. During Silvertower, WACCAMAW replenished sixty-nine ships. The number of fueling operations reflected the extensive logistical requirements of a large multinational exercise. She returned to Norfolk on October 15, 1968.

After completing the NATO exercise, WACCAMAW continued operating off the Virginia and Florida coasts until November 21. She then entered a tender availability at Craney Island, Virginia, for upkeep and maintenance. WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk on December 18, 1968, and spent the remaining days of the year in port for leave, maintenance and preparations for the following year's operations.

WACCAMAW began 1969 at Norfolk. On January 2, she arrived at Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Baltimore, Maryland, for routine hull maintenance. The work was followed by a regular overhaul at Horne Brothers Shipyard in Newport News, Virginia. The overhaul involved repairs to the tanker's machinery and equipment, which had accumulated considerable operating time during the previous Mediterranean and NATO deployments. After completing the yard periods, WACCAMAW returned to training activities.

During the spring of 1969, the ship conducted exercises in the Virginia Capes operating area. She then proceeded to Guantanamo Bay for refresher training, completing the program on June 20. The exercises restored crew proficiency following the extended shipyard maintenance. WACCAMAW spent July 1969 conducting operations off the Virginia and Florida coasts. Photographic records from approximately this period also show the tanker conducting an underway replenishment with USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA 62) in the Atlantic. On August 21, 1969, WACCAMAW shifted to Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth for final preparations before her next deployment.

On September 2, 1969, WACCAMAW departed for a North Atlantic deployment. The assignment included support for NATO naval forces conducting exercises in northern waters. These operations were associated with the alliance's continuing concern about the security of Atlantic shipping routes and the movements of Soviet submarines and surface ships. Between September 17 and September 23, 1969, WACCAMAW participated in NATO Exercise Peacekeeper. The exercise involved allied naval forces conducting coordinated operations in the North Atlantic. WACCAMAW provided logistical support to the participating ships. The tanker remained deployed during the following months and returned to Norfolk Naval Station on December 11, 1969. She spent the rest of the year in port for leave and upkeep.

During January and February 1970, WACCAMAW continued a tender availability at Norfolk. After loading fuel at Craney Island, she departed on March 5 for another Mediterranean deployment. Shortly after getting underway, WACCAMAW experienced problems with her feed pumps. The engineering malfunction required her to return to Norfolk for repairs. The ship remained in port until the necessary work had been completed.

On March 17, 1970, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk again for the Mediterranean. She arrived at Rota, Spain, on March 29. The naval facilities at Rota were an important logistical and operational point for American ships entering or leaving the Mediterranean. After joining the Sixth Fleet, WACCAMAW resumed underway replenishment operations with carrier and surface formations. On April 7, she received visits from the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Commander, Sixth Fleet. On May 22, 1970, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. visited WACCAMAW, transferring aboard by highline from the guided missile escort USS JULIUS A. FURER (DEG 6). Zumwalt had been nominated to become the next Chief of Naval Operations and would assume that position on July 1, 1970. The visit took place while WACCAMAW was conducting her Mediterranean deployment.

During June 1970, WACCAMAW was involved in a collision with the destroyer USS EUGENE A. GREENE (DD 711) during an underway replenishment in the eastern Mediterranean. The destroyer experienced steering difficulties and came into contact with the tanker's starboard side. Both ships sustained relatively minor damage and continued their assignments.

WACCAMAW remained active in the Mediterranean throughout the summer of 1970. Her operations involved replenishment support for American naval vessels conducting exercises and maintaining a naval presence in the region. On September 17, 1970, WACCAMAW arrived at Rota, Spain, in preparation for leaving the Sixth Fleet and returning to the United States. Shortly before she was due to depart the operating area, she received orders extending her Mediterranean assignment because of the developing crisis in Jordan. The crisis followed increasingly violent clashes between the Jordanian government and Palestinian armed organizations. During September 1970, the fighting raised concerns about the stability of the Jordanian monarchy and the possibility of intervention by neighboring states. American naval forces in the eastern Mediterranean were placed in a position to respond if required.

WACCAMAW departed Rota on September 18 and returned to the Mediterranean operating area. Her extended assignment involved providing logistical support to naval units associated with the American response to the crisis. During the extended deployment, WACCAMAW visited Athens, Greece, and Souda Bay, Crete. These ports provided logistical facilities and opportunities for maintenance and personnel visits during the operation. After completing her additional duties, WACCAMAW proceeded once more toward Rota and subsequently sailed for the United States. She arrived at Norfolk on October 31, 1970, and spent the remainder of the year in leave and upkeep.

WACCAMAW subsequently received the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for her participation in the naval support operations associated with the Jordanian crisis. The award recognized her contribution to the force maintained in the Mediterranean during the emergency. At the beginning of 1971, WACCAMAW remained at Norfolk in restricted availability. Maintenance was carried out to prepare the ship for renewed operations following the extended Mediterranean deployment. On February 10, 1971, WACCAMAW conducted sea trials. She loaded fuel at Craney Island on February 16 and departed for further operations on February 20.

On February 23, 1971, WACCAMAW was involved in a collision with the fast combat support ship USS DETROIT (AOE 4) during an underway replenishment operation. WACCAMAW sustained relatively minor damage, but the incident required her to return to Norfolk for repairs. The repair period lasted from February 24 through March 9, 1971. Following completion of the work, WACCAMAW resumed her operational assignments.

During April 1971, WACCAMAW operated in the Jacksonville, Florida, area, supporting naval exercises and training activities. After returning to Norfolk, she remained in port for repairs and maintenance until June 28. On June 28, 1971, WACCAMAW departed for the North Atlantic to support an antisubmarine warfare group. The deployment involved replenishment support for ships conducting operations in northern Atlantic waters. During the deployment, WACCAMAW developed steering difficulties. The mechanical problems eventually required the ship to terminate her assignment earlier than planned and return to the United States on August 29.

WACCAMAW remained in port for extensive steering repairs during the following months. She conducted sea trials on September 20, 1971, but continued undergoing maintenance and corrective work. Between November 2 and November 24, 1971, WACCAMAW provided services to ships operating in the Virginia Capes area. Apart from these activities, she remained in the Norfolk area for repairs, upkeep and preparations for further operations during the remainder of the year.

On January 3, 1972, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The program included practical exercises intended to restore operational readiness following the preceding year's repair periods. During the cruise, WACCAMAW visited Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Port Everglades, Florida. These calls took place before her return to Norfolk on February 12, 1972. Following her arrival, WACCAMAW spent approximately one month in port, including a period during which she provided support services for a Naval Reserve surface division. The assignment involved the use of the tanker in connection with reserve training activities.

Between March 17 and May 30, 1972, WACCAMAW conducted operations in the Virginia Capes area and off the Atlantic coasts of Florida and South Carolina. These exercises provided the final operational preparation for a major overseas deployment. On May 30, 1972, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk for an extended deployment to Subic Bay in the Philippines. The assignment represented a substantial change from her previous Atlantic and Mediterranean service. She was being sent to support Seventh Fleet operations during the final major period of American naval combat activity in the Vietnam War.

The deployment coincided with the North Vietnamese offensive that began on March 30, 1972. The offensive, generally known as the Easter Offensive, led to increased American naval and air operations against North Vietnam. Aircraft carriers operating in the Gulf of Tonkin required frequent deliveries of aviation fuel, while cruisers, destroyers and escort vessels needed substantial quantities of fuel to remain at sea.

WACCAMAW proceeded south through the Atlantic and rounded the Cape of Good Hope on June 21, 1972. After entering the Indian Ocean, she continued eastward toward Southeast Asia. The route avoided the Suez Canal and took the tanker around southern Africa before proceeding across the Indian Ocean to the Philippines. On July 11, 1972, WACCAMAW arrived at Subic Bay after a voyage lasting forty-one days. The naval base was one of the principal logistical centers supporting the Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War. Its facilities included fuel storage, repair installations, ammunition depots and other services required by ships operating off Vietnam. After replenishing her cargo and completing preparations, WACCAMAW departed Subic Bay on July 16, 1972, for her first operating period off the coast of Vietnam. During the following months, she repeatedly traveled between the fuel supply facilities at Subic Bay and the operating areas of the Seventh Fleet.

Her primary assignment was underway replenishment of aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other ships engaged in naval operations associated with the Vietnam War. The carrier formations operating at Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin required substantial quantities of aviation fuel to sustain their aircraft operations, while escort vessels consumed fuel during prolonged patrols, air defense duties and naval gunfire support missions. WACCAMAW's documented operational cycle off Vietnam began in July 1972, following her arrival at Subic Bay and departure for the operating area on July 16. Her recognized campaign-credit periods during the subsequent deployment included July 17-26 and August 4-13. These campaign-credit dates identify recognized service in the operational theater.

On August 28, 1972, WACCAMAW was photographed replenishing the aircraft carrier USS ORISKANY (CVA 34) in the South China Sea. The photographs document the two ships operating alongside one another during ORISKANY's western Pacific deployment. The carrier was conducting combat operations connected with the intensified American air campaign against North Vietnam. WACCAMAW continued providing fuel support through September 1972. Her recognized campaign periods included August 21-September 2 and September 9-12, followed by September 27-October 2. During these operations she supplied ships involved in American naval activities along the coast of Vietnam and in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Further campaign service was recorded during October 9-13 and October 22-28. The tanker remained engaged in repeated replenishment assignments during a period when American naval aviation and surface forces continued supporting South Vietnamese military operations. During the deployment, WACCAMAW made periodic visits to Hong Kong and Singapore for rest, repairs and maintenance. These visits provided breaks between operating periods off Vietnam. During November 1972, WACCAMAW continued her Seventh Fleet replenishment duties. Her campaign-credit periods included November 5-12 and November 26-December 19. Naval operations against North Vietnam continued throughout the period, with American aircraft carriers remaining at sea and surface combatants conducting assigned missions.

The final major American bombing campaign against North Vietnam, Operation Linebacker II, began on December 18, 1972. WACCAMAW remained in the regional operating area during the period of increased naval activity. Her recognized campaign service continued from December 28, 1972, through January 5, 1973. On January 4, 1973, WACCAMAW replenished the escort ship USS LANG (DE 1060). This was recorded as the final one of 246 replenishment commitments carried out by WACCAMAW during her service off Vietnam. The figure provides a measure of the extensive logistical work performed by the tanker during approximately six months of operations in Southeast Asian waters. Following completion of her Vietnam assignment, WACCAMAW returned to Subic Bay and began the voyage back to the United States. The return passage took her across the Pacific Ocean to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before continuing toward the Panama Canal. After passing through the canal, WACCAMAW proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia, arriving on February 17, 1973. The return completed a voyage around the world that had begun with her departure from Norfolk on May 30, 1972.

The Paris Peace Accords had been signed on January 27, 1973, shortly before WACCAMAW's return. The agreement provided for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of American combat forces from Vietnam. Although the political and military conflict in Vietnam continued after the agreement, the direct American combat commitment was being reduced substantially. WACCAMAW received the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and one Vietnam campaign star for her service during the deployment. Her Vietnam-related awards reflected the tanker's participation in sustaining naval forces during the final phase of American combat operations.

Following her arrival at Norfolk, WACCAMAW underwent a period of maintenance and preparations for renewed Atlantic Fleet assignments. Her long deployment had involved substantial operation of the propulsion machinery and frequent use of the fuel transfer equipment. On April 9, 1973, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk to provide logistical support for NATO naval forces operating off Greenland. The deployment placed her in the northern Atlantic, where allied surface and antisubmarine forces conducted operations in waters of strategic importance to transatlantic shipping and the approaches to the Arctic.

After returning to Norfolk, WACCAMAW entered a restricted availability beginning on May 4, 1973. The maintenance period continued until July 16 and included extensive repairs to equipment requiring attention following her overseas service and North Atlantic assignment. After completion of the shipyard work, WACCAMAW remained in the Norfolk area for preparations and training. On December 8, 1973, she departed for operations off the Virginia coast. The assignment included sea operations intended to evaluate the ship's readiness following the extended maintenance period.

WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk approximately one week later and remained in the homeport area through the final weeks of 1973. On January 8, 1974, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk for Mayport, Florida. She subsequently operated in the Jacksonville training area, providing support to ships assigned to Atlantic Fleet exercises and other duties. On January 27, 1974, WACCAMAW arrived at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. She participated in Operation Springboard 74, the Atlantic Fleet's annual Caribbean training program. The exercise involved naval units conducting operational training during the winter months.

Following the exercise, WACCAMAW proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, arriving on February 18. Her visit was associated with further training and logistical support during the Caribbean deployment. On March 1, 1974, WACCAMAW departed Guantanamo Bay for Norfolk. She remained in the Norfolk area throughout March and April, preparing for another deployment with the Sixth Fleet.

On May 3, 1974, WACCAMAW departed Norfolk for the Mediterranean. The deployment lasted approximately seven months and included fuel support for American naval forces operating throughout the region. During the cruise, WACCAMAW visited ports in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Crete and Turkey. These visits were associated with the regular operating pattern of Sixth Fleet support ships, which alternated periods at sea with replenishment of cargo, maintenance and personnel visits in suitable ports. The deployment occurred during a period of considerable political and military tension in the eastern Mediterranean. In July 1974, a coup in Cyprus was followed by Turkish military intervention on the island. The confrontation between Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, prompted increased concern over regional security and the possible effects on allied military operations.

American naval forces maintained a presence in the eastern Mediterranean during the Cyprus crisis and continued their regular surveillance and operational commitments. WACCAMAW provided the fuel required by ships assigned to these activities. During the remainder of the deployment, WACCAMAW continued replenishing Sixth Fleet ships and conducting visits to Mediterranean ports. WACCAMAW returned to Norfolk on December 6, 1974, completing her final Mediterranean deployment as a commissioned United States Navy ship. Following her arrival, preparations began for her transfer to the Military Sealift Command.

The Navy was reorganizing part of its auxiliary fleet to increase the use of civilian-operated vessels for routine logistical duties. Under this arrangement, fleet oilers could continue supporting commissioned warships while being operated by civilian merchant marine crews, reducing the requirement for military personnel in certain support functions.

On February 24, 1975, WACCAMAW was decommissioned and transferred to the Military Sealift Command. She subsequently continued in noncommissioned naval service as USNS WACCAMAW (T-AO 109). The transfer ended approximately twenty-eight years and eight months of commissioned Navy service but did not end the tanker's operational career. Under Military Sealift Command control, WACCAMAW continued carrying and transferring petroleum products to naval vessels. Her civilian crew operated the propulsion plant, navigation systems and cargo-handling equipment, while a Navy personnel detachment supported military communications and other assigned functions. The civilian operating complement was approximately 108 personnel, considerably smaller than her former commissioned crew.

The ship's armament was removed, and her primary function remained underway replenishment. Her modernized cargo pumps, replenishment rigs and enlarged fuel tanks continued to be used to support American naval formations. During 1975, WACCAMAW resumed overseas logistical assignments under civilian operation. Her service continued to involve the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters, where American naval formations required regular fuel deliveries to maintain their operating schedules.

During early 1976, WACCAMAW was photographed conducting a simultaneous underway replenishment of USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7) and USS CHARLESTON (LKA 113). The operation occurred while the ships were traveling from Sicily toward Nice, France, around February 1, 1976. The two amphibious warfare vessels approached WACCAMAW on opposite sides to receive fuel. The photographs document the tanker's continued use of the double-sided replenishment arrangements installed during her reconstruction.

Another photograph from approximately 1976 shows WACCAMAW simultaneously replenishing INDEPENDENCE, by then classified CV 62, and the destroyer USS RICHARD E. KRAUS (DD 849). The image appeared in a Navy publication and was associated with the carrier's Mediterranean deployment extending from October 1975 to May 1976. The replenishment demonstrated WACCAMAW's continuing ability to supply a large aircraft carrier and an escorting destroyer during the same underway operation. These assignments were typical of her Military Sealift Command service, during which she directly supported commissioned Navy vessels despite having a civilian operating crew.

During 1977, WACCAMAW continued supporting American naval formations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Her principal task remained the delivery of petroleum products and underway replenishment of ships assigned to overseas operations. On April 3, 1978, WACCAMAW was involved in a collision with the dock landing ship USS FORT SNELLING (LSD 30) north of Corsica, France. The incident occurred during an underway replenishment when WACCAMAW experienced a steering-control failure. The resulting collision caused structural damage to both vessels. Despite the damage, WACCAMAW and FORT SNELLING remained capable of navigating under their own power. Both proceeded to Naples, Italy, for repairs. The incident required corrective maintenance before the ships could resume their normal operating assignments.

Following the repairs, WACCAMAW returned to Mediterranean replenishment duties. During November 1978, she was supporting American naval forces operating with the Sixth Fleet. On November 21, 1978, WACCAMAW collided with SARATOGA, by then classified CV 60, during an underway replenishment approximately fifty miles south of Crete. Both ships sustained minor damage, but no injuries were reported. The collision occurred during SARATOGA's Mediterranean deployment, which had begun in October 1978. The carrier was conducting Sixth Fleet operations while WACCAMAW supplied fuel to the deployed formation.

During 1979, WACCAMAW remained part of the Military Sealift Command's Atlantic support force. The Navy maintained substantial forces in the Mediterranean while the political situation in the Middle East changed following the Iranian Revolution and other regional developments. During 1980, WACCAMAW continued performing logistical assignments for American naval forces. The historical records establish that she required substantial emergency structural repairs during the autumn. On September 29, 1980, Military Sealift Command Atlantic awarded a contract to Davie Shipbuilding Limited at Levis, Quebec, for emergency repairs to WACCAMAW. The contract was valued at approximately $1,567,162. A subsequent United States Government Accountability Office review of ship repair contracting records identified this contract and the repair period.

Following the Canadian shipyard period, WACCAMAW continued her service as a fleet replenishment tanker. Her duties remained associated with the support of American naval vessels operating in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. During September 1981, WACCAMAW was operating in the Mediterranean south of Sardinia. On September 24, she collided with GUADALCANAL during an underway replenishment. The collision caused minor damage, but no injuries were reported. The accident occurred during a period of amphibious and naval operations in the Mediterranean. GUADALCANAL had recently experienced a separate aviation accident on September 17, when a Marine Corps CH-53D helicopter crashed while attempting to land aboard the ship near Sardinia, killing the five personnel aboard. The collision between WACCAMAW and GUADALCANAL was subsequently recorded in the official Navy account of Rear Admiral Thomas J. Johnson's career. Johnson had recently relinquished command of GUADALCANAL, and the incident occurred shortly after the change of command.

On October 13, 1981, WACCAMAW was involved in another collision in the Mediterranean, this time with USS RALEIGH (LPD 1). The fast combat support ship DETROIT was alongside during the incident.

Four days later, on October 17, 1981, WACCAMAW was struck by an Italian tug at Cagliari, Sardinia. The tug reportedly lost control while approaching to assist in maneuvering. The impact damaged WACCAMAW's hull. The succession of incidents during the autumn of 1981 required attention to the tanker's hull and operating equipment.

During 1982, WACCAMAW continued operating under Military Sealift Command control. Her duties remained associated with the transport and transfer of petroleum products in support of American naval forces. During 1983, WACCAMAW supported American naval operations connected with the crisis in Lebanon. Following Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the United States contributed forces to a multinational military presence centered on Beirut. Ships of the Sixth Fleet supported American Marines ashore and maintained naval surveillance, aviation and logistical activities in the eastern Mediterranean.

WACCAMAW received Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal credit for service associated with Lebanon during October 11-18, November 3-12 and December 5-9, 1983. These periods establish qualifying service in the operating area. The recognized service occurred during a period of continuing violence in Lebanon. On October 23, 1983, attacks on the American and French multinational force compounds in Beirut killed large numbers of military personnel. American naval forces continued operations in the area while the political and military situation deteriorated. WACCAMAW's contribution remained logistical. She supplied fuel in support of deployed naval units, allowing carriers and surface combatants to continue their assigned operations without repeated returns to major naval bases.

Her qualifying Lebanon-related service continued during the first months of 1984. Official award records identify March 6-8, March 12-14, March 18-22, March 28-April 10 and April 29-May 1, 1984, as additional periods of qualifying service. During these months, American forces were reducing their direct military presence ashore in Lebanon. The Marines assigned to the multinational force were withdrawn from Beirut in February 1984, while naval forces maintained operations in the eastern Mediterranean.

On April 1, 1985, WACCAMAW conducted an underway replenishment with the aircraft carrier USS CORAL SEA (CV 43) in the Atlantic Ocean. Navy photographs taken during the operation show the tanker's port bow, her underway replenishment equipment and the transfer of refueling hoses to the carrier. The photographs provide a precisely dated record of WACCAMAW's continued service with Atlantic Fleet carrier formations. CORAL SEA was among the conventionally powered carriers whose operational endurance depended on the availability of replenishment ships.

During the remainder of 1985, WACCAMAW continued serving with the Military Sealift Command. On January 29, 1986, WACCAMAW again replenished CORAL SEA, this time in the Mediterranean Sea. An official Navy photograph taken by Photographer's Mate Second Class Rory Knepp documents the underway fuel transfer between the two ships. During the remainder of 1986 and 1987, WACCAMAW remained in operational service. Her official awards record includes recognition for services during October 1, 1986-June 30, 1987, and further qualifying periods from July 1-September 30 and October 1-December 31, 1987. These records establish the continuation of designated naval support duties.

During 1988, WACCAMAW remained an active Military Sealift Command vessel. Her continuing assignment involved logistical support for American naval forces. WACCAMAW received Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon recognition for April 1-June 30, 1989. By 1989, WACCAMAW had been in service for more than forty-three years. Although her midbody and replenishment equipment were substantially newer than her original hull and machinery, the tanker retained major components dating from her construction in the closing period of World War II.

The Military Sealift Command was gradually replacing older fleet oilers with more modern replenishment vessels that offered improved cargo capacity, machinery efficiency and maintenance characteristics. The continuing operation of older steam-powered tankers required substantial engineering support and periodic repairs.

WACCAMAW was withdrawn from active Military Sealift Command operations during 1989. On October 11, 1989, at 9:00 a.m., she entered the James River Reserve Fleet near Fort Eustis, Virginia, under the custody of the United States Maritime Administration. The transfer ended her active logistical service to the Navy. The James River facility was one of the principal National Defense Reserve Fleet anchorages, where former government vessels were retained pending possible further use or final disposal. WACCAMAW was moored among other inactive Navy auxiliary vessels. On October 11, 1991, WACCAMAW was struck from the Naval Vessel Register. The administrative action formally removed the ship from the Navy's list of vessels retained for naval service. She remained in Maritime Administration custody in the James River reserve fleet.

During the following years, WACCAMAW continued to be held in the reserve fleet while the Maritime Administration evaluated the disposition of aging government-owned vessels. Her machinery and hull were no longer maintained for routine operational employment, and there were no plans to return her to active Navy service. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Maritime Administration continued reviewing the inventory of obsolete vessels awaiting disposal. Environmental and maintenance concerns contributed to a program of removing ships that were no longer required for national defense purposes.

WACCAMAW was eventually selected for dismantling. On August 26, 2005, a disposal contract was awarded to International Shipbreaking Limited of Brownsville, Texas. The contract provided for the removal and scrapping of the former tanker. On October 11, 2005, WACCAMAW departed the James River Reserve Fleet under tow for transport to Brownsville. The movement ended approximately sixteen years of inactive custody at the reserve fleet facility. Following arrival in Texas, WACCAMAW was delivered to the International Shipbreaking facility for dismantling. The work involved removing equipment and breaking up the hull and machinery in accordance with the disposal contract.

On June 20, 2006, the Maritime Administration officially recorded WACCAMAW as destroyed by scrapping. The entry marked completion of the disposal process and the final end of the ship's physical existence.

During her career, WACCAMAW received two Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations, the World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe clasp, National Defense Service Medal with an additional award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one campaign star and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Her qualifying assignments included occupation-related service in European waters, operational support during Cold War crises in the Mediterranean and replenishment duties during the final years of American naval combat operations in Vietnam.

back to top

go to the end of the page

USS / USNS WACCAMAW Image Gallery:

back to top

Back to Fleet Oilers page.

Back to ships list.

Back to selection page.

Back to 1^st page.