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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSAbatan |
| Builder | Marinship Corporation,Sausalito, California |
| Laid down | 9 June 1944 |
| Launched | 6 August 1944 |
| Commissioned | 29 January 1945 |
| Decommissioned | 27 January 1947 |
| Stricken | 1 July 1960 |
| Reinstated | 27 September 1962 |
| In service | 1962 |
| Out of service | 1979 |
| Stricken | 1 May 1970 |
| Fate | Sunk as a target, 1980 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Pasig-classdistilling ship |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 523 ft 6 in (159.56 m) |
| Beam | 68 ft (21 m) |
| Draft | 30 ft 10 in (9.40 m) |
| Propulsion | Turbo-electric, single propeller |
| Speed | 15.1knots (28.0 km/h; 17.4 mph) |
| Complement | 265 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
USSAbatan (AW-4) was aPasig-classdistilling ship built for theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II, named after theAbatan River located in the southwestern part ofBohol Island in thePhilippines.[1]
Originally laid down as SSMission San Lorenzo under aUnited States Maritime Commission contract on 9 June 1944 atSausalito, California by the Marinship Corporation, she was renamedUSSAbatan on 25 July 1944 in anticipation of her acquisition by the Navy and simultaneously designatedAO-92 for naval service as anoiler, launched on 6 August 1944, sponsored by Mrs.John A. McCone, transferred to the Navy on 28 November 1944 at theMare Island Navy Yard,Vallejo, California, converted there for naval service, completed as a distilling ship, redesignatedUSSAbatan (AW-4) on 24 August 1944 and placed in commission on 29 January 1945.
Late in February, the new distilling ship got underway for shakedown training off the coast of southern California. She left the continental United States on the 28th and shaped a course for the WesternCaroline Islands. After pausing en route atEniwetok,Abatan reachedUlithi on 21 March and remained there for more than six months providing potable water to various types of landing craft, patrol vessels, and escort ships. During this period of her service,Japan capitulated in mid-August.
The ship sailed forOkinawa on 1 October, and stopped en route atSamar, Philippine Islands, to take on fresh water before continuing on to the Ryukyus. She reached her destination on 11 October and began issuing water to various fleet units. The ship left Okinawa on 15 November and set a course for Shanghai, China. She touched at that port on the 18th and remained stationed there through April 1946. The vessel left Chinese waters on 2 May and sailed viaOkinawa to theMarshall Islands.Abatan reached Eniwetok on 31 May and assumed duties in connection with "Operation Crossroads," a series of tests conducted to determine the effects of atomic explosions upon warships. She was involved in this project until 27 June, when she weighed anchor and got underway for Kwajalein. The distilling ship arrived there the next day and remained in port providing potable water through 17 July. She then commenced a voyage to the east coast of the United States. The vessel visitedPearl Harbor, Hawaii, in late July; transited thePanama Canal; reported to theAtlantic Fleet in mid-August; and then proceeded to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She arrived there on 20 August and entered a preinactivation availability phase.
Abatan was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 27 January 1947 and was berthed at Philadelphia. Her name was struck from theNavy list on 1 July 1960, and the ship was transferred to theMaritime Administration for layup in theJames River.
Abatan was reacquired by the Navy and reinstated on the Navy list on 27 September 1962 for use as a backup fresh water storage ship at the Naval Base,Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. She was again struck from theNaval Vessel Register on 1 May 1970 but was retained as a hulk for storing water atGuantánamo Bay.
Late in 1979 all desirable equipment was removed from the hull, which was expended as a target on 10 March 1980 approximately 20 miles (32 km) west ofGuadeloupe at 16 N – 62 W.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1980 | |
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