USNS Mission San Rafael

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.

History
United States
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
Stricken	22 June 1955
In service	20 June 1956
Out of service	20 August 1959
In service	31 May 1960
Fate	Scrapped at Baltimore June 1971
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

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.

She was scrapped at Baltimore in June 1971.

See also

• Mission San Rafael Arcángel

References

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

• "Mission San Rafael". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Retrieved 3 April 2006.
• "T-AO-130 Mission San Rafael". Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index. Retrieved 3 April 2006.