USNS Mission Purisima

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.

History
United States
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
Stricken	16 May 1955
Acquired	26 June 1956
In service	26 June 1956
Out of service	4 December 1957
Stricken	4 December 1957
Identification	IMO number: 5237177
Fate	Scrapped 27 April 1976
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

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 was sold for scrapping to American Ship Dismantlers, Inc. on 27 April 1976.

See also

• Original Mission La Purísima

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

• "Mission Purisima". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 1 April 2006.
• "T-AO-118 Mission Purisima". Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index. Retrieved 1 April 2006.