USS Calamus (AOG-25) was a Mettawee-classgasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.
USS Calamus (AOG-25) Underway off San Francisco, California, c. March 1946.
Calamus was launched 4 May 1944 by East Coast Shipyard, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. A. H. Moore; transferred to the Navy 7 July 1944; and commissioned the same day.
Calamus sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, 13 September 1944, bound for Pearl Harbor and Ulithi, where she arrived in mid-December and began her work as station tanker, fueling ships of the fleet as they brought the war ever closer to the Japanese homeland.
Supporting the Central Pacific fleetedit
Calamus cleared for Eniwetok 20 January 1945, and until February, pumped her vital gasoline into the ships readying there for the assault on Iwo Jima. Following the fleet she served westward, Calamus did station duty at Saipan from 11 February until 26 April, when she anchored off Okinawa to support the 3-week-old assault. The tanker provided essential fueling service through the entire period of the island's assault and occupation, enduring the violent Japanese air attacks which marked the campaign as steadfastly as did the combatant ships.
Beached at Okinawa and refloatededit
While at OkinawaCalamus was beached as a result of Typhoon Louise, 9 October 1945, refloated 24 October 1945, repaired and returned to service.
Post-war decommissioningedit
Following occupation service, Calamus returned to San Francisco, California, 20 March 1946 and was struck from the Navy list (date unknown). She was decommissioned 15 May 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Commission 4 September 1946. Final disposition: she was scrapped in 1964.
Military awards and honorsedit
Calamus received one battle star for service in World War II. Her crew was eligible for the following medals:
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive – AOG-25 Calamus
January 01, 1970
calamus, mettawee, class, gasoline, tanker, acquired, navy, dangerous, task, transporting, gasoline, warships, fleet, remote, navy, stations, underway, francisco, california, march, 1946, history, united, states, name, namesakecalamus, river, nebraska, tributa. USS Calamus AOG 25 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 USS Calamus AOG 25 Underway off San Francisco California c March 1946 History United States NameUSS Calamus NamesakeCalamus River in Nebraska a tributary of the North Loup River Orderedas T1 M A2 tanker hull MC hull 1522 Laid downdate unknown Launched4 May 1944 Acquired7 July 1944 Commissioned7 July 1944 Decommissioned15 May 1946 Strickendate unknown FateScrapped in 1964 General characteristics Tonnage1 228 long tons deadweight DWT Displacement846 tons lt 2 270 tons fl Length220 ft 6 in Beam37 ft Draught17 ft PropulsionDiesel direct drive single screw 720 hp Speed10 knots 19 km h Complement62 Armamentone single 3 in 76 mm dual purpose gun mount two 40 mm guns three single 20 mm gun mounts Calamus was launched 4 May 1944 by East Coast Shipyard Inc Bayonne New Jersey under a Maritime Commission contract sponsored by Mrs A H Moore transferred to the Navy 7 July 1944 and commissioned the same day Contents 1 World War II service 1 1 Supporting the Central Pacific fleet 1 2 Beached at Okinawa and refloated 2 Post war decommissioning 3 Military awards and honors 4 References 5 External linksWorld War II service editCalamus sailed from Norfolk Virginia 13 September 1944 bound for Pearl Harbor and Ulithi where she arrived in mid December and began her work as station tanker fueling ships of the fleet as they brought the war ever closer to the Japanese homeland Supporting the Central Pacific fleet edit Calamus cleared for Eniwetok 20 January 1945 and until February pumped her vital gasoline into the ships readying there for the assault on Iwo Jima Following the fleet she served westward Calamus did station duty at Saipan from 11 February until 26 April when she anchored off Okinawa to support the 3 week old assault The tanker provided essential fueling service through the entire period of the island s assault and occupation enduring the violent Japanese air attacks which marked the campaign as steadfastly as did the combatant ships Beached at Okinawa and refloated edit While at Okinawa Calamus was beached as a result of Typhoon Louise 9 October 1945 refloated 24 October 1945 repaired and returned to service Post war decommissioning editFollowing occupation service Calamus returned to San Francisco California 20 March 1946 and was struck from the Navy list date unknown She was decommissioned 15 May 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission 4 September 1946 Final disposition she was scrapped in 1964 Military awards and honors editCalamus received one battle star for service in World War II Her crew was eligible for the following medals American Campaign Medal Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia clasp References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editNavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive AOG 25 Calamus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Calamus amp oldid 1199846524, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
