Mission Buenaventura (T-AO 111) Class: Photographs

SS Mission San Luis Rey Preparing for postwar layup in the Maritime Commission's reserve fleet at Lee Hall, Va., in March 1946. She had been operated for the War Shipping Administration since March 1944 by Pacific Tankers Inc. The position for a 3"/50 gun on the forecastle, now empty, was removed from all ships of this class at this time, but some ships retained the empty 5"/38 gun position on the stern and some 20mm gun tubs. This photo was published in MSTS Magazine in January 1960. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC)
SS Mission Santa Ana Photographed circa 1947 with commercial stack and hull markings by a photographer from San Pedro, Calif., probably in the main channel between San Pedro and Terminal Is. She was operated by Pacific Tankers Inc. for the Maritime Commission from November 1946 to January 1948, when she was delivered to the Navy to replace Ponaganset (AO 86) which had broken in half during conversion. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe
USNT Mission San Carlos (AO 120) Moored as a U.S. Naval Tanker in 1948-49 at berth 86 on the San Pedro side of the main channel in the Port of Los Angeles. A sister, USNT Escambia (AO 80), is at a berth between her and the city shed at berth 90. To the right is the west end of Terminal Island dominated here by the smokestack of the Hammond Lumber Co. at berths 220-225. In the background is the Wilmington District of Los Angeles with its basins and slips. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe
USNT Mission Soledad (AO 136) Underway as a U.S. Naval Tanker in 1948-49 near the seaward end of the main channel between San Pedro and Terminal Island. The Long Beach Naval Shipyard is visible in the far distance over the Quonset huts on the right. A San Pedro harbor tug is assisting. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe
USNS Mission Santa Cruz (T-AO 133) Underway circa late 1949 at an unidentified location with a harbor tug assisting. The marking on her bow has been changed from "U.S. Naval Tanker" to "U.S. Naval Ship." but the work was sloppy and the letters "ker" still show after the word "ship." Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC)
USNS Mission San Gabriel (T-AO 124) Underway as a U.S. Naval Ship during the 1950s with the San Pedro Bay breakwaters in the background and with harbor tugs from San Pedro assisting. She was the last T2-SE-A2 built with Marinship's original small stack. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe
USNS Mission San Antonio (T-AO 119) Underway as a U.S. Naval Ship during the 1950s with the San Pedro Bay breakwaters in the background. She was the first T2-SE-A2 built with a large stack similar to those in T2-SE-A1's, including the T2-SE-A1's built at Marinship after the T2-SE-A2's. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe
USNS Mission Dolores (T-AO 115) In the harbor of Long Beach, California, as a U.S. Naval Ship during the 1950s. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe
USNS Mission Buenaventura (T-AO 111) In coastal waters as a U.S. Naval Ship during the 1950s. She was one of the six ships of this class that remained active beyond 1959 and was the last except for Mission Santa Ynez to leave service. Photo No. USN 1031993 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC)
USNS Mission Santa Ynez (T-AO 134) In coastal waters as a U.S. Naval Ship during the 1950s. She is fully loaded and has a harbor tug assisting to port forward. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC)
USS Mission Santa Clara (AO 132) Probably shown during delivery to Pakistan in late 1962 as their Dacca (A-41) after a limited conversion to a fleet oiler. She was fitted with a single underway replenishment rig aft of the bridge and was the only ship of this class to wear her American AO hull number. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
USNS Mission Santa Ynez (T-AO 134) The Navy's last active T2 tanker taking on jet fuel at the Signal Oil and Gas Refinery at Houston before leaving active service in 1975. She now has "U.S.N.S." instead of "U.S. Naval Ship" above the name on her stern. This photo was published in MSC's Sealift Magazine in May 1983. She was the last T2 tanker in existence when, covered with rust, she went to the breakers in 2010. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC)