USS Narraguagas (AOG-32)
Encyclopedia
USS Narraguagas (AOG-32) 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.
Narraguagas (ex MC hull 1529) was laid down 30 August 1944 by East Coast Ship Yard, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey
; launched 15 October 1944; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 20 November 1944; and commissioned 2 December 1944, Lt. Randall F. Elder, U.S.C.G., in command.
, the U.S. Coast Guard-manned tanker Narraguagas reported to ComServLant, 15 January 1945, for routing through the Panama Canal
to California
. Attached to ServRon
8, Pacific Fleet 13 February, she moored at San Pedro, California, until departing for Pearl Harbor
on the 20th. Arriving 2 March, she got underway two weeks later on a shuttle run to Johnston Island. On 6 April she sailed for Eniwetok, where she joined ServRon
10 on the 20th. By the 25th she was en route to Ulithi
, whence she proceeded to Leyte
and thence Kerama Retto
.
planes. During the action one of the planes collided with (AV-4), while the second splashed by the Coast Guard cutter Bibb
(WPG-31).
at the end of the year.
12 April 1947 and was transferred to the Maritime Commission in June 1947 for disposal. Later that year, she was sold to Compania de Petroleo Lago, in Maracaibo, Venezuela and renamed the "Esso Maracaibo". In April 1964, she collided with the recently inaugurated General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge
across the Maracaibo ship channel, destroying one of the spans and causing the deaths of seven people. Later renamed "Lagoven Maracaibo", the ship was eventually scrapped in Taiwan in June 1985.
Mettawee class gasoline tanker
The Mettawee-class gasoline tanker was a class of small gasoline tankers based on the Maritime Commission standard T1-M-A2 hull that served in World War II. The ships were completed between 1943 and 1945. Despite being charged with the dangerous task of carrying a highly volatile cargo into...
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.
Narraguagas (ex MC hull 1529) was laid down 30 August 1944 by East Coast Ship Yard, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
; launched 15 October 1944; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 20 November 1944; and commissioned 2 December 1944, Lt. Randall F. Elder, U.S.C.G., in command.
World War II service
Following shakedownShakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
, the U.S. Coast Guard-manned tanker Narraguagas reported to ComServLant, 15 January 1945, for routing through the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Attached to ServRon
ServRon
A ServRon is a standard United States Navy abbreviation for "Service Squadron."A Service Squadron was a squadron of U.S. Navy ships that served the fleet. The squadron included ships such as tankers, oilers, refrigerator ships, ammunition ships, supply ships, repair ships, and the like...
8, Pacific Fleet 13 February, she moored at San Pedro, California, until departing for Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on the 20th. Arriving 2 March, she got underway two weeks later on a shuttle run to Johnston Island. On 6 April she sailed for Eniwetok, where she joined ServRon
ServRon
A ServRon is a standard United States Navy abbreviation for "Service Squadron."A Service Squadron was a squadron of U.S. Navy ships that served the fleet. The squadron included ships such as tankers, oilers, refrigerator ships, ammunition ships, supply ships, repair ships, and the like...
10 on the 20th. By the 25th she was en route to Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
, whence she proceeded to Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
and thence Kerama Retto
Kerama Retto
The are a group of 22 islands located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan. Four of the islands are inhabited:,., and. The islands are within Shimajiri District. The Kerama-shotō coral reef is a Ramsar Site....
.
Under attack by Japanese planes
Arriving in the Ryukyus 13 June, she commenced refueling operations immediately. On 21 June, at 1842, a surprise attack on the anchorage was staged by two JapaneseEmpire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
planes. During the action one of the planes collided with (AV-4), while the second splashed by the Coast Guard cutter Bibb
USCGC Bibb (WPG-31)
The USCGC Bibb was a Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury. The legendary Bibb was named for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury George M. Bibb.The ship saw service in World War II...
(WPG-31).
End-of-war activity
Narraguagas resumed her vital refueling operations shortly thereafter, continuing them at Kerama Retto until 7 July. She then shifted to Buckner Bay, and operated in the Ryukyus until getting underway for the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the end of the year.
Post-war decommissioning
Arriving at San Pedro 10 January 1946, she commenced inactivation. Decommissioned 5 March, she was struck from the Navy ListNavy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
12 April 1947 and was transferred to the Maritime Commission in June 1947 for disposal. Later that year, she was sold to Compania de Petroleo Lago, in Maracaibo, Venezuela and renamed the "Esso Maracaibo". In April 1964, she collided with the recently inaugurated General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge
General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge
The General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge is located at the outlet of Lake Maracaibo, in western Venezuela. The bridge connects Maracaibo with much of the rest of the country...
across the Maracaibo ship channel, destroying one of the spans and causing the deaths of seven people. Later renamed "Lagoven Maracaibo", the ship was eventually scrapped in Taiwan in June 1985.