USNS Mission San Rafael (T-AO-130)

Career
Name:	Mission San Rafael
Builder:	Marinship Corporation, Sausalito, California
Laid down:	25 September 1943
Launched:	31 December 1943
In service:	22 March 1944
Out of service:	25 April 1946
In service:	21 October 1947
Out of service:	2 February 1955
Struck:	22 June 1955
In service:	20 June 1956
Out of service:	20 August 1959
In service:	31 May 1960
Out of service:	date unknown (after 1969)
Fate:	fate unknown
General characteristics
Class and type:	Mission Buenaventura-class oiler
Displacement:	1,625 long tons (1,651 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

SS Mission San Rafael 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 San Rafael (AO-130). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San Rafael (T-AO-130). She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Mission San Rafael Arcángel, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Service history

Originally laid down as SS Mission San Rafael on 25 September 1943 as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under a Maritime Commission contract by the Marine Ship Corporation, Sausalito, California; launched on 31 December 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Edith S. Waterman; and delivered on 22 March 1944.

Chartered to Los Angeles Tanker Operators, Inc. for operations on the same date, she spent the remainder of the war carrying fuel to U.S. forces in the western Pacific (during which time she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal). She remained in this capacity until 25 April 1946 when she was transferred to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington.

Acquired by the Navy on 21 October 1947 she was chartered to Union Oil Company for operations and placed under the operational control of the Naval Transportation Service as Mission San Rafael (AO-130). Transferred to the control of the newly created Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) on 1 October 1949 she was redesignated USNS Mission San Rafael (T-AO-130). She remained with MSTS until 2 February 1955 when she was returned to MARAD and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 22 June 1955.

Reacquired by the Navy on 20 June 1956 she was once again placed in service with MSTS and was operated, under charter, by Marine Transport Lines. She served until 20 August 1959 when she was returned to MARAD and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California. Reacquired by the Navy on 31 May 1960 she was placed in service with MSTS and operated, under charter, by Marine Transport Lines. Into 1969, she was still serving with MSTS, carrying fuel to U.S. forces stationed overseas.

The ship's final disposition is unknown.

References

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

• "Mission San Rafael". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. 
• "T-AO-130 Mission San Rafael". Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index. http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19130.htm. Retrieved April 3, 2006. 

See also

• Mission San Rafael Arcángel