USS Ontonagon (AOG-36) on 5 November 1944
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Class:        SAKATONCHEE (AOG-19)
Design        MC T1-M-A2
Displacement (tons):        769 light, 2,270 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        220.5' oa, 212.5' wl x 37.0' e x 13.1 lim.
Original Armament:        1-3"/50 6-20mm (1943-4: AOG 19-22, 24, 36)
Later armaments:        1-3"/50 1-40mmS 6-20mm (1944: AOG 24-26); 1-3"/50 2-40mmS 3-20mm (1944-45: AOG 21-46, 60-63)
Complement        60 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        10
Propulsion (HP):        800
Machinery:        1 screw, Fairbanks-Morse diesel (National Supply Corp. diesel in AOG 21-22, 45-46, and 60-61)

Construction:

AOG	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
19	SAKATONCHEE	15 Jan 44	East Coast SYs	13 Aug 42	22 May 43	17 Jan 44
20	SEEKONK	10 Feb 44	East Coast SYs	13 Aug 42	24 May 43	10 Feb 44
21	SEQUATCHIE	5 Aug 44	Todd Galveston DDs	1 Jun 43	21 Dec 43	2 Sep 44
22	WAUTAUGA	7 Sep 44	Todd Galveston DDs	14 Jun 43	10 Jan 44	28 Sep 44
23	AMMONUSUC	18 May 44	East Coast SYs	23 Nov 43	25 Mar 44	19 May 44
24	SHEEPSCOT	13 Jun 44	East Coast SYs	15 Dec 43	9 Apr 44	27 Jun 44
25	CALAMUS	11 Jul 44	East Coast SYs	14 Mar 44	4 May 44	17 Jul 44
26	CHIWAUKUM	22 Jul 44	East Coast SYs	2 Apr 44	4 May 44	25 Jul 44
27	ESCATAWPA	12 Aug 44	East Coast SYs	17 Apr 44	3 Jun 44	18 Aug 44
28	GUALALA	19 Aug 44	East Coast SYs	24 Apr 44	3 Jun 44	25 Aug 44
29	HIWASSEE	17 Oct 44	East Coast SYs	3 Jul 44	30 Aug 44	24 Oct 44
30	KALAMAZOO	7 Oct 44	East Coast SYs	7 Jul 44	30 Aug 44	14 Oct 44
31	KANAWHA	13 Nov 44	East Coast SYs	30 Aug 44	18 Oct 44	23 Nov 44
32	NARRAGUAGAS	20 Nov 44	East Coast SYs	30 Aug 44	15 Oct 44	2 Dec 44
33	OCHLOCKONEE	18 Dec 44	East Coast SYs	18 Oct 44	19 Nov 44	29 Dec 44
34	OCONEE	23 Dec 44	East Coast SYs	18 Oct 44	19 Nov 44	12 Jan 45
35	OGEECHEE	31 Aug 44	East Coast SYs	7 May 44	30 Jun 44	6 Sep 44
36	ONTONAGON	13 Sep 44	East Coast SYs	10 May 44	30 Jun 44	21 Sep 44
37	YAHARA	22 Sep 44	East Coast SYs	6 Jun 44	30 Jul 44	29 Sep 44
38	PONCHATOULA	30 Sep 44	East Coast SYs	7 Jun 44	30 Jul 44	6 Oct 44
39	QUASTINET	28 Oct 44	East Coast SYs	2 Aug 44	24 Sep 44	6 Nov 44
40	SACANDAGA	31 Oct 44	East Coast SYs	4 Aug 44	24 Sep 44	9 Nov 44
41	TETONKAHA	28 Nov 44	East Coast SYs	27 Sep 44	29 Oct 44	8 Dec 44
42	TOWALIGA	6 Dec 44	East Coast SYs	29 Sep 44	29 Oct 44	14 Dec 44
43	TULAROSA	4 Jan 45	East Coast SYs	31 Oct 44	17 Dec 44	10 Jan 45
44	WAKULLA	15 Jan 45	East Coast SYs	31 Oct 44	17 Dec 44	3 Feb 45
45	YACONA	7 Feb 45	East Coast SYs	23 Nov 44	14 Jan 45	16 Feb 45
46	WAUPACA	29 Jan 45	East Coast SYs	23 Nov 44	4 Jan 45	9 Feb 45
60	MANOKIN	3 Oct 44	Todd Galveston DDs	28 Jun 43	25 Jan 44	27 Oct 44
61	SAKONNET	31 Oct 44	Todd Galveston DDs	1 May 43	1 Dec 43	20 Nov 44
62	CONEMAUGH	9 Mar 45	East Coast SYs	19 Dec 44	17 Feb 45	21 Mar 45
63	KLASKANINE	26 Feb 45	East Coast SYs	21 Dec 44	3 Feb 45	8 Mar 45

Disposition:

AOG	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
19	SAKATONCHEE	29 Mar 46	1 May 46	1 Jul 46	MC	7 Jan 64
20	SEEKONK	1 May 46	21 May 46	28 Aug 46	MC	10 Dec 48
21	SEQUATCHIE	26 Jun 46	15 Aug 46	7 Oct 46	MC	18 Feb 48
22	WAUTAUGA	26 Apr 47	13 Jul 48	14 Jun 48	Trf.	--
23	AMMONUSUC	4 Jun 46	23 Apr 47	9 Mar 48	MC	19 Feb 48
24	SHEEPSCOT	--	1 Nov 45	5 Jun 45	Lost	--
25	CALAMUS	15 May 46	25 Sep 46	4 Sep 46	MC	7 Feb 64
26	CHIWAUKUM	31 May 46	23 Apr 47	10 May 48	Trf.	--
27	ESCATAWPA	20 Mar 46	17 Apr 46	1 Jul 46	MC	14 Apr 47
28	GUALALA	29 Mar 46	1 May 46	10 Sep 46	MC	9 Feb 48
29	HIWASSEE	8 Feb 46	12 Mar 46	13 Oct 47	FLC	--
30	KALAMAZOO	18 May 46	23 Apr 47	26 Nov 47	MC	26 Nov 47
31	KANAWHA	23 Mar 46	17 Apr 46	4 Sep 46	MC	7 Feb 64
32	NARRAGUAGAS	5 Mar 46	12 Apr 46	29 Jun 46	MC	5 Jun 47
33	OCHLOCKONEE	14 Jan 46	7 Feb 46	29 Jun 46	MC	26 Oct 48
34	OCONEE	28 Mar 46	1 May 46	1 Jul 46	MC	14 Apr 47
35	OGEECHEE	18 Feb 46	12 Mar 46	1 Jul 46	MC	7 Feb 64
36	ONTONAGON	1956	13 Nov 57	13 Nov 57	MA	7 Jan 64
37	YAHARA	21 May 46	19 Jul 46	5 Nov 46	MC	18 Nov 46
38	PONCHATOULA	24 Apr 46	21 May 46	9 Sep 46	MC	21 Apr 48
39	QUASTINET	16 Apr 46	21 May 46	9 Sep 46	MC	15 Aug 47
40	SACANDAGA	23 Nov 45	5 Dec 45	25 Jan 46	Dest.	--
41	TETONKAHA	22 Jan 46	12 Mar 46	1 Jul 46	MC	21 Apr 48
42	TOWALIGA	10 May 47	12 Mar 48	10 May 47	Trf.	--
43	TULAROSA	23 Apr 46	21 May 46	28 Aug 46	MC	7 Jan 64
44	WAKULLA	13 Jun 46	19 Jul 46	14 Nov 46	MC	14 Nov 46
45	YACONA	20 Dec 45	8 Jan 46	25 Jul 46	MC	10 Mar 47
46	WAUPACA	26 Mar 46	1 May 46	1 Jul 46	MC	15 Nov 46
60	MANOKIN	27 Mar 46	1 May 46	10 Sep 46	MC	8 Nov 46
61	SAKONNET	26 Oct 45	13 Nov 45	1 Jul 46	MC	19 Sep 51
62	CONEMAUGH	29 Mar 46	17 Apr 46	29 Mar 46	MC	7 Jan 64
63	KLASKANINE	25 Mar 46	12 Apr 46	25 Mar 46	MC	4 Mar 48

Class Notes:
FY 1943 (AOG 19-22), 1944 (others). In 1941 the Maritime Commission developed a design for a small tanker for light petroleum products in response to a British request for assistance under the Lend-Lease program, and in November 1941 it ordered the first 16 vessels of this type, which it designated T1-M-A1. Orders for a second batch of 16 ships followed in March and May 1942. 26 of these 32 ships were completed to the T1-M-A1 design, and all of the A1's except for the two transferred to the Navy as AOG 17-18 were loaned to Britain under Lend-Lease as originally intended.

In a 4 Nov 42 letter to the Munitions Allocations Board CominCh stated that planned operations in the South Pacific and Southwest Pacific urgently required a number of small tankers which were not obtainable from normal sources and asked that six of the new T1-M-A1 type be allocated to the United States instead of to the UK for whom they were being built under Lend-Lease. This letter was also provided to the Auxiliary Vessels Board, which on 7 Nov 42 concurred that six of these vessels were essential at this time and recommended that they be acquired, converted to provide for Navy crews, and fitted to permit the transportation or storage of both gasoline and diesel oil. These six ships became AOG 17-22, of which the first four were built at Bayonne, N.J., by the East Coast Shipyards (originally the Marine Maintenance Corp.) and the last two came from Galveston, Texas. The first two ships from East Coast were completed to the T1-M-A1 design (see the AOG-17 class), while the later two (AOG 19-20) were transferred to the MC Military Program on 9 Apr 43 for completion to the T1-M-A2 design, which included features desired by the Navy. The Galveston ships (AOG 21-22, along with two acquired later as AOG 60-61) were part of an order for 8 ships (MC hulls 785-792), the first four of which were completed as T1-M-A1's and loaned to the British. These eight ships were ordered from Gray's Iron Works, Inc., Galveston, on 19 Mar 42 and re-awarded to the same yard under its new name, Todd Galveston Drydocks, Inc., on 21 Jun 43. MC hulls 789-90 (AOG-61 and 21) were transferred to the MC Military Program on 11 Jan 44 soon after launching and MC hulls 791-92 (AOG-22 and 60) were transferred on 2 Nov 43 before launching, all becoming T1-M-A2's.

In December 1942 the MC ordered 24 more ships to the T1-M-A1 design, twelve (MC hulls 1520-31) from the East Coast Shipyards, in Bayonne, and twelve (MC hulls 1532-43) from Gray's Iron Works in Galveston. On 24 May 43 the Auxiliary Vessels Board reported that these orders had been placed "because of the urgent need for tankers and with the approval of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," and recommended that they be acquired by purchase to meet the Navy's urgent needs, that they be manned by Navy crews, and that a minimum conversion to accommodate the crews be undertaken. A few days before this action, on 18 May 43, the MC cancelled the contract with Gray's Iron Works for hulls 1532-43. In compensation it added six more hulls (1798-1803) to the East Coast contract on 19 May 43 and another six (2067-72) in May or June 1943. On 17 Aug 43 it transferred all 24 ships in this contract to the MC Military Program for completion to the T1-M-A2 design.

On 7 Sep 43 the Auxiliary Vessels Board noted that two tankers similar to AOG 17-22 that were under construction by Todd-Galveston Dry Dock, Inc. (formerly Gray's Iron Works) were understood to be available for Navy acquisition with estimated deliveries in January 1944. In view of the increasing need for such vessels the Board recommended acquiring them, converting them to provide for Navy crews and to carry both gasoline and diesel oil. These, already referred to above, became AOG 60-61. On 3 Jul 44 the Board recommended acquiring two more East Coast ships (AOG 62-3) as part of a program for 54 ships to be built by the MC for delivery in the first half of 1945 as naval auxiliaries. The MC ordered these two ships from East Coast on 26 Jul 44 under its Military Program for prospective delivery in January/February 1945.

The East Coast ships were delivered to the Navy 100% complete by their builder and the MC. The Navy then took them to repair yards in the New York area (Marine Basin Co., Brooklyn, for AOG-35, 37, 41, 44, and 46, and possibly all the rest) for further conversion and outfitting. The time between commissioning and reporting for shakedown varied from over two months for some early ships to under two weeks for others. The MC transferred the four Galveston hulls to Houston SB Corp., Houston, Texas, for completion. The Navy probably had them fitted out by the Brown SB Corp. at Houston, which took the completion and camouflage photographs for these ships.

As part of the rapid postwar demobilization of this class, SecNav on 13 Dec 45 authorized CinCPac to decommission and transfer AOG-36 to the Army. The ship was transferred to the Commanding General, Army Forces, Western Pacific, probably at Manila, and the Army designated her Y-130. The Army still had her in 1950, and on 6 Jun 50 Commander MSTS stated that Y-130 would be classified T-AOG-36 upon transfer to the Navy on or about 1 Jul 50 and would be assigned to MSTS in "Active Status, In Service." A letter of 7 Jun 50 from Op-333 reinstated her on the List of Naval Vessels, and the Navy formally received the ship from the Army on 1 Jul 50..

Ship Notes:

AOG	Name	MC	Notes
19	SAKATONCHEE	901	Ex YOG-49 25 Mar 43, ex merc. SOLDIER CREEK. Laid up as SAKATONCHEE 1946. No bids when offered ca. 1947. To buyer 23 Jan 64, scrapped by 3 Mar 65.
20	SEEKONK	902	Ex YOG-50 25 Mar 43, ex merc. SUMMIT SPRINGS (completed 9 Feb 44). Laid up as SEEKONK 1946. Merc. SEEKONK (Canadian) 1948. Beached after explosion and fire at Charlettetown, Prince Edward Island, 7 Jun 63, cut down to barge or scrapped.
21	SEQUATCHIE	790	Ex YOG-51 25 Mar 43, ex merc. ROYSTON. Transferred by MC to Houston SB Corp., Houston, Texas, for completion. Merc. ROYSTON (MC) 1946, OTCO BAYWAY 1948 (lengthened), stripped and scuttled 1975 as METRO LANDRY No. 1.
22	WAUTAUGA	791	Ex YOG-52 25 Mar 43, ex merc. CONROE. Transferred by MC to Houston SB Corp., Houston, Texas, for completion (completed 26 Sep 44). Designated 27 Jun 46 for transfer to China, repaired at Pearl Harbor Jul-Nov 46, decomm. at Subic Bay 1947, to China 1948 at Subic as YU CHUAN. Stricken after running aground 1959, scrapped 1964.
23	AMMONUSUC	1520	In deferred disposal status 1946-47 for possible transfer to a South American country and, after strike, to Turkey. Merc. PROVIDENCE 1948 (lengthened 1952). Damaged by explosion and fire 30 Dec 69 at South Portland, Maine, as DEAN REINAUER and cut down to barge.
24	SHEEPSCOT	1521	Ex USS ANDROSCOGGIN 4 Nov 43. Wrecked in hurricane at Iwo Jima, wreck reported dispersed and listed as destroyed 20 Oct 45.
25	CALAMUS	1522	Declared surplus by MC 16 Oct 47, advertised twice, no bids. To buyer 2 Mar 64, scrapped by 29 Jun 64.
26	CHIWAUKUM	1523	To Turkish Navy 1948 as AKPINAR. Stricken 1986.
27	ESCATAWPA	1524	Merc. ESSO PORTO ALEGRE (Brazilian) 1947. Wrecked 28 Sep 70 as GRAVATAI near Campo Bom, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
28	GUALALA	1525	Bought by Brazilian Aeronautical Commission, Washington, DC, 1948 and to Navy as RIJO. Deleted 1970.
29	HIWASSEE	1526	To Army 20 Feb 46 at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, returned 25 Mar 47 and sold at Subic Bay by FLC. Merc. TONG SHUI (Philippine firm, Panamanian registry) 1947. Wrecked on Pratas Reef 2 Oct 53, refloated 9 Oct 53 and laid up, hulked at Manila 1956.
30	KALAMAZOO	1527	In deferred disposal status 1946-47. Bought by Columbian Government 1947 and to Navy as BLAS DE LEZO. Lengthened to 250' oa by Avondale Marine Corp., Inc., Harvey, La. Decomm. Jan. 1965.
31	KANAWHA	1528	Advertised by MC three times ca. 1947, no bids. (Had been blown on reef at Okinawa during typhoon 9 Oct 45 but remained afloat and water tight.) To buyer 2 Mar 64, scrapped by 8 May 64.
32	NARRAGUAGAS	1529	Merc. ESSO MARACAIBO (Venezuelan) 1947. Scrapped 1970 as SARITA.
33	OCHLOCKONEE	1530	Merc. TYCOL 1948 (lengthened). Scuttled off New Jersey 2002 as VINCENT TIBBETTS.
34	OCONEE	1531	Merc. ESSO RIO GRANDE (Brazilian) 1947. Scrapped 2003 as PIRATINI.
35	OGEECHEE	1798	No bids when offered ca. 1947. To buyer 2 Mar 64, scrapped by 3 Dec 64.
36	ONTONAGON	1799	Decomm. and to Army as Y-130 27 Feb 46, stk. 12 Mar 46. Reinstated on list as ONTONAGON (T-AOG-36) 7 Jun 50, from Army to MSTS 1 Jul 50. To MA 14 Dec 54, stk. 22 Jun 55. From MA and reinstated on list 26 Apr 56. To NDRF 25 Sep 56 (MSTS Ready Reserve), from NDRF 16 Oct 57 for stripping and preparation for layup. To buyer 22 Jan 64, scrapped by 4 Nov 65.
37	YAHARA	1800	Name PALOMAS proposed but IX-91 already had it. Merc. EL CARIBE 1947. Scrapped 1974 as AGHIA TRIAS.
38	PONCHATOULA	1801	Merc. MYSTIC SUN 1948, reported converted to barge 14 May 69, scrapped 1981.
39	QUASTINET	1802	Merc. SEAGULL 1947, BRUCH 1950. lengthened 1959, scrapped 1976.
40	SACANDAGA	1803	Beached by typhoon at Okinawa 9 Oct 45 and damaged beyond economical repair, hulk destroyed by blowing up 25 Jan 46.
41	TETONKAHA	2067	Merc. MAUMEE SUN 1948. Damaged in collision 23 Nov 65 near the western entrance to the Cape Cod Canal. Sold for scrap 1969, scrapped 1972 at Baltimore.
42	TOWALIGA	2068	To China under Lend-Lease 10 May 47 as TAI HWA, returned from Lend-Lease and transferred to China 7 Feb 48. Renamed HSING KAO 1955, final fate unknown.
43	TULAROSA	2069	Completed 31 Dec 44. No bids when offered ca. 1947. To buyer 23 Jan 64, scrapped by 12 Jan 65.
44	WAKULLA	2070	Merc. MEI AN 1946, STANVAC OGAN 1948. Lengthened 1961, scrapped 1980 as MOBILE SERVICE.
45	YACONA	2071	Spent entire Navy career as a training ship at Miami, Fla. Merc. YACONA (Gulf Oil Corp.) 1947, to Colombian owner as YACONA 1974. Deleted 1992 (possibly scrapped at Mamonal, Colombia, after 1984).
46	WAUPACA	2072	Merc. MEI SHAN 1947, STANVAC No. 312 1948. Last listed as LEAP DAL (renamed 1975), possibly scrapped at Jurong 20 Nov 77.
60	MANOKIN	792	Ex merc. RODESSA. Transferred by MC to Houston SB Corp., Houston, Texas, for completion. Merc. MEI PING 1946, STANVAC SELO 1948, SEA HORSE 1963 (lengthened), deleted 1988.
61	SAKONNET	789	Ex merc. OLD OCEAN. Transferred by MC to Houston SB Corp., Houston, Texas, for completion. Merc. OLD OCEAN (MC) 1946. No bids when offered ca. 1947. Sank at San Francisco June 1947 while laid up, raised. Sold as SAKONNET, to buyer 3 Oct 51, scrapped by 16 Feb 53.
62	CONEMAUGH	2656	To buyer 22 Jan 64, scrapped by 9 Feb 66.
63	KLASKANINE	2657	Bought by Brazilian Aeronautical Commission, Washington, DC, 1948 and to Navy as RAZA. Merc. ITAJAI 1970, last listed 1996.

Page Notes:
AOG        1943
Compiled:        14 Aug 2010
© Stephen S. Roberts, 2002-2010