USS Chiwaukum
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Chiwaukum |
| Namesake | Chiwaukum River in Washington |
| Ordered |
|
| Laid down | date unknown |
| Launched | 4 May 1944 |
| Commissioned | 25 July 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 31 May 1946 |
| Stricken | date unknown |
| Fate | transferred to Turkey, 10 May 1948 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 1,228 long tons deadweight (DWT) |
| Displacement | 846 tons(lt) 2,270 tons(fl) |
| Length | 220 ft 6 in |
| Beam | 37 ft |
| Draught | 17 ft |
| Propulsion | Diesel direct drive, single screw, 720 hp |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Complement | 62 |
| Armament | one single 3 in (76 mm) dual purpose gun mount, two 40 mm guns, three single 20 mm gun mounts |
USS Chiwaukum (AOG-26) was a Mettawee-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.
Chiwaukum was launched 4 May 1944 by East Coast Shipyards, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. A. H. Moore; acquired by the Navy and commissioned 25 July 1944.
World War service
[edit]Clearing Norfolk, Virginia, 23 September 1944, Chiwaukum sailed to load oil at Aruba, Netherlands West Indies, and reached Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 25 November.
She stood out of Espiritu Santo 2 December for the New Guinea area where she operated as a gasoline tanker until 18 January 1945 when she reported for similar duty in the Philippines. Departing Samar, Philippine Islands, 12 December 1945, Chiwaukum arrived at San Francisco, California, 9 February. She remained there until 17 April when she put out for Norfolk, arriving 16 May.
Post-war decommissioning
[edit]Chiwaukum was decommissioned 31 May 1946 and transferred to Turkey 10 May 1948 and renamed TCG Akpınar. Final disposition: fate unknown.
Military awards and honors
[edit]Chiwaukum’s crew was eligible for the following medals:
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Philippines Liberation Medal
References
[edit]
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.