USNS Mission Purisima (T-AO-118)

Career
Name:	Mission Purisima
Builder:	Marinship Corporation, Sausalito, California
Laid down:	10 June 1943
Launched:	25 August 1943
In service:	23 November 1943
Out of service:	27 April 1946
Acquired:	15 October 1947
In service:	15 October 1947
Out of service:	16 May 1955
Struck:	16 May 1955
Acquired:	26 June 1956
In service:	26 June 1956
Out of service:	4 December 1957
Struck:	4 December 1957
Fate:	Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type:	Mission Buenaventura-class oiler
Displacement:	5,532 long tons (5,621 t) light 21,880 long tons (22,231 t) full
Length:	524 ft (160 m)
Beam:	68 ft (21 m)
Draft:	30 ft (9.1 m)
Propulsion:	Turbo-electric, single screw, 6,000 hp (4.47 MW)
Speed:	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Complement:	52
Armament:	None

SS Mission Purisima was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission Purisima (AO-118). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission Purisima (T-AO-118). She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Mission La Purísima Concepción near Lompoc, California.

Service history

Mission Purisma was laid down on 10 June 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by Marinship Corporation, Sausalito, California; launched 25 August 1943, sponsored by Mrs. John Collins; and delivered 23 November 1943. Chartered to Deconhill Shipping Company for operations, she carried fuel to allied forces in the Pacific and the Atlantic theaters until 27 April 1946 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California.

Acquired by the Navy on 15 October 1947 she was placed in service with Naval Transportation Service as Mission Purisma (AO-118) and continued serving in the Transportation Service until taken over by the new Military Sea Transportation Service on 1 October 1949 and designated USNS Mission Purisma (T-AO-118). She served with MSTS until 16 May 1955 when she was returned to the Maritime Administration and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date.

Reacquired by the Navy on 26 June 1956 she was placed in service with MSTS and served until returned to MARAD on 4 December 1957 and laid up at the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay. Again struck from the Naval Vessel Register that same date, she remained berthed at Suisun Bay into 1969.

The ship's final disposition in unknown.

Awards

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).

References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• "Mission Purisima". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19118h.htm. Retrieved April 1, 2006. 
• "T-AO-118 Mission Purisima". Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index. http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19118.htm. Retrieved April 1, 2006.