USNS Mission Dolores

SS Mission Dolores was a Mission Buenaventura-class oiler built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II, named for Mission San Francisco de Asís in San Juan Capistrano, California, one of two named for the Franciscan mission located in San Francisco, California.

History
United States
Name	Mission Dolores
Builder	Marine Ship Corporation, Sausalito, California
Laid down	18 February 1944
Launched	26 April 1944, as SS Mission Dolores
In service	31 May 1944
Out of service	17 May 1946
Acquired	by US Navy, 20 October 1947
In service	20 October 1947, as Mission Dolores (AO-115)
Out of service	30 March 1955
Reclassified	USNS Mission Dolores (T-AO-115), 1 October 1949
Stricken	22 June 1955
Acquired	by US Navy, 27 June 1956
In service	27 June 1956
Out of service	19 September 1957
Stricken	19 September 1957
Identification	IMO number: 5237165
Fate	Sold into commercial service, 21 April 1969 Scrapped, May 1984
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)
Speed	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Complement	52
Armament	None

After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission Dolores (AO-115). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission Dolores (T-AO-115).

Service history

Charter ship, 1944–1946

SS Mission Dolores was laid down as a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker on 18 February 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract by the Marine Ship Corporation of Sausalito, California. Launched on 26 April 1944, sponsored by Mrs. William E. Briggs, the ship was delivered on 31 May 1944.

Chartered to Pacific Tankers, Inc., on 31 May, for operations, she spent the remainder of the war providing fuel products to Allied forces in the Pacific. Returned to the Maritime Commission on 17 May 1946 she was laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington.

Navy transport, 1947–1957

Acquired by the Navy on 20 October 1947 she was designated as USS Mission Dolores (AO-115) and transferred to the Naval Transportation Service for service. Operating under charter by Union Oil Company, she carried fuel and oil to US forces and Allies overseas, and continued in this duty after the Naval Transportation Service had been replaced by the Military Sea Transportation Service. From 1 October 1949, the date MSTS was created, until May 1955, she operated as USNS Mission Dolores (T-AO-115). Returned to the Maritime Administration on 22 June 1955 she was laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date.

Reacquired by the Navy on 27 June 1956 she was placed in service with MSTS on the same date and served with them until returned to the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia, on 19 September 1957.

Sold into commercial service, 1969–1984

On 21 April 1969 the ship was transferred by MARAD, to Sea-Land Service Inc. for conversion to a container ship, and renamed SS Tampa on 30 October 1969. Sold to Reynolds Leasing Corp., on 24 September 1970, she was scrapped in May 1984.

References

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

• "Mission Dolores". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 1 April 2006.
• "AO-115 Mission Dolores". Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index. Retrieved 1 April 2006.