USNS Mission Solano (AO-135)
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 USNS Mission Solano |
||
| Career |  |
|
|---|---|---|
| Ordered: | ||
| Laid down: | 8 October 1943 | |
| Launched: | 14 January 1944 | |
| Commissioned: | 30 March 1944 | |
| Decommissioned: | n/a | |
| Fate: | Unknown | |
| General Characteristics | ||
| Displacement: | 5,532 tons light; 21,880 tons full |
|
| Length: | 524 ft (160 m) | |
| Beam: | 68 ft (21 m) | |
| Draft: | 30 ft (9 m) | |
| Speed: | 16.5 knots (31 km/h) | |
| Complement: | 52 mariners | |
| Armament: | None | |
The USNS Mission Solano was one of twenty-seven Mission Buenaventura Class fleet oilers built during World War II for service in the United States Navy, named for the Franciscan mission located in Sonoma, California.
Mission Solano was laid down 8 October 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by Marine Ship Corporation, Sausalito, California; launched 14 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William B. Hawke and delivered 30 March 1944. Chartered to Deconhill Shipping Company for operations, she spent the remainder of the War carrying fuel to our forces in the western Pacific. She remained in this capacity until 29 April 1946 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington.
Acquired by the Navy 20 October 1947 she was chartered to the Pacific Atlantic Steamship Company for operations and placed under the operational control of the Naval Transportation Service as Mission Solano (AO-135). When the newly created Military Sea Transportation Service took over operational control 1 October 1949 she was redesignated USNS Mission Solano (T-AO-135). She served with MSTS until 15 August 1957 when she was returned to the Maritime Administration and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date.
Sold to Sea-Land Service, Inc. on 26 May 1967 she was converted into a container ship. She was renamed Jacksonville on 27 December 1967. Resold to Madison Transportation Company on 19 June 1968, into 1969 she was still in the merchant service as a container ship.
During her active military service she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactively). She also received a Battle Star for her Korean War service.
The ship's final disposition is unknown.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Mission Solano. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved on April 3, 2006.
- T-AO-132 Mission Solano. Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index. Retrieved on April 3, 2006.
