| |
N7KTP > NAVNET 15.07.04 13:09l 55 Lines 3007 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 64948_N7WE
Read: GUEST
Subj: USS CAHABA (AO-82)
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<OK0PKL<OK0PCC<OK0NAG<9A0BBS<S50BOX<S50MBL<IV3LAV<I4UKI<
IK5CKL<IW2ESA<VK8PDG<EA5AKC<7M3TJZ<ON0AR<WB0TAX<VE7DIE<N7WE
Sent: 040715/0443Z @:N7WE.#WWA.WA.USA.NA #:64948 [Bremerton] $:64948_N7WE
From: N7KTP@N7WE.#WWA.WA.USA.NA
To : NAVNET@USA
Oiler Cahaba a valuable resource for 3rd, 5th Fleet ships in World War
II
By FRED MILES WATSON - Managing Editor - Northwest Navigator
The Fleet Oiler Cahaba (AO-82) was named after a river in Alabama
and built by Marinship Corporation of Sausalito, Calif., under a
Maritime Commission contract. She was transferred to the Navy Aug. 15,
1943 and commissioned Jan. 14, 1944 with Cmdr. E. H. Danesi, USNR, in
command.
Cahaba was an Escambia class oiler that displaced 5,782-tons and
nearly 524 feet long. She had a draft of 30 feet, 10 inches and could
make a top speed of 15 knots. Ships company totaled 225 Sailors. At the
time of commissioning she was outfitted with one, 5-inch and four, 3-
inch gunmounts.
Reporting to the Pacific Fleet, Cahaba cleared San Pedro, Calif.,
Feb. 11, 1944 for Pearl Harbor and Majuro, arriving April 1. After 2
weeks as station oiler there, she put to sea to fuel Task Force 58 from
April 13 to May 2, as the massive task force hurled air attacks against
the Palaus, Truk, and Hollandia. Returning to Majuro, the oiler based
there for two fueling runs to Kwajalein and one refueling voyage to
Pearl Harbor between May 3 and June 13.
During the Navy's Marianas operation, Cahaba's base became
Eniwetok from June 28, as she fueled 5th Fleet ships for their strikes
on Guam, Saipan, and Tinian. As the fleet she served moved westward,
Cahaba followed, serving as station oiler at Ulithi from Oct. 13 to
Dec. 27, along with refueling 3rd Fleet units at sea from Oct. 14 to
30. Supporting the Lingayen Gulf Covering Force, the oiler took station
in Kossol Roads from Dec. 28, 1944 to Jan. 26, 1945, then returned to
Ulithi. She contributed to the successful assault on Iwo Jima by
fueling Task Force 58 ships at sea from Feb. 23 to March 4.
After returning to the West Coast for an overhaul, Cahaba sailed
from San Pedro to the kamikaze-ridden waters off Okinawa, delivering
oil to the station tanker at Kerama Retto late in June 1945. Through
the close of the war, she sailed out of Ulithi refueling the 3rd Fleet
at sea as it carried out its final smashing raids on the Japanese
homeland. Clearing Ulithi in early September, the oiler paused at
Okinawa, then sailed on to Shanghai to aid in the reoccupation by
Chinese Nationalists of areas held by the Japanese during the war.
Occupation duty at Okinawa, Formosa, Hong Kong, and Amoy continued
until March 16, 1946, when she cleared for the Panama Canal and New
York City, arriving April 28. Cahaba was decommissioned May 15, 1946,
and transferred to the Maritime Commission May 8, 1947. Cahaba was
reacquired in March 1948 and transferred to the Military Sea
Transportation Service on July 31, 1950. Cahaba served in a noncom-
missioned status until Jan. 20, 1958 when she was returned to the
Maritime Administration.
USS Cahaba (AO-82) was awarded eight battle stars for her World
War II service.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
