Description
Fleetco, aPatokaReplenishment oilerbuilt by theNewport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,Newport News, Virginia, for theUnited States Shipping Board(E.F.C. 1639), was launched on 21 April 1920; transferred to the Navy by Executive Order on 17 October 1921; renamedUSSSepulga(AO-20)on 2 November 1921; delivered to the Navy atMare Island, California, on 13 December 1921. HistoryUnited StatesNameSepulgaNamesakeSepulga Riverin AlabamaBuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,Newport News, VirginiaLaunched21 April 1920Acquired17 October 1921Commissioned13 January 1922Decommissioned15 April 1922Recommissioned5 February 1940Decommissioned1 March 1946Stricken20 March 1946FateSold for scrapping, 10 December 1946General characteristicsClass and typePatokaReplenishment oilerDisplacement16,800long tons(17,070t) (full)Length477ft 10in (145.64m)Beam60ft (18m)DraftMax. 29ft (8.8m)Speed11.2knots(20.7km/h; 12.9mph)Capacity70,000barrelsComplement90Armament 2 single5"/38 caliber guns 4 twin20 mmguns Service historyEdit Commissioned on 13 January 1922, with Lt. Arthur G. Somers, USNRF, in temporary command,Sepulgawas decommissioned on 15 April 1922, and laid up at Mare Island for the next 18 years. She was re-commissioned on 5 February 1940, Comdr. Arthur R. Ponto in command; and, in March, she commenced operations for theNaval Transportation Service. Based atSan Pedro, she carried fuel, general cargo, and passengers from the west coast toGuam, thePhilippines,Wake Island,Midway, andHawaiiduring the remaining months of peace in the Pacific. On 7 December, she was en route from San Pedro toPearl Harbor. At mid-month, she arrived in Hawaii, where she delivered fuel to carriersLexington(CV-2),Saratoga(CV-3), andEnterprise(CV-6). On 3 January 1942, she sailed forCaliforniato take on cargo and fuel for theSociety Islands. Upon arriving atBora Boraon 18 February, she fueled merchant and Allied naval ships through March; then sailed for San Pedro. By mid-May, she resumed fueling duties at Bora Bora and continued them until 16 July when she again sailed for the west coast. After reaching San Pedro on 5 August, she again departed her California base on the 24th and headed north toDutch Harborin theAleutianswhere she dispensed petroleum products into the fall, interrupting those duties only for runs to theSeattlearea to refill her tanks. In January 1944,Sepulgareturned to the Central Pacific. Temporarily assigned to ServRon 4, she arrived atFunafution the 15th; took on Navy and Marine passengers; and, on the 23d, got underway forKwajalein. Arriving on 4 March, she provided fuel and water to fleet units at that atoll. Later reassigned to ServRon 10, she remained at Kwajalein into June; then moved toEniwetokto provide similar services, to serve as receiving ship for passengers in transit, and to act as headquarters for the fuel section of her squadron. In October 1944, she proceeded toUlithiwhere she served as station ship and headquarters ship through the end of the war. On 4 November 1945, theWorld War I-designed oiler got underway for the United States and inactivation. Arriving atSan Franciscoon 29 November, she was decommissioned on 1 March 1946; struck from the Navy List on 20 March; transferred to the Maritime Commission on 1 July; and sold, for scrapping, to theNational Metal and SteelCorp., on 10 December.
