USNS Shawnee Trail (T-AO 142).
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Class: CEDAR CREEK (T-AO 138, T2-SE-A1)
Design: MC T2-SE-A1
Displacement (tons): 5,630 light, 21,880 full
Dimensions (feet): 524' oa, 503' wl x 68' e x 30' max nav
Armament: none
Accommodations: 12-13 officers, 31-35 unlicensed
Speed (kts.): 15
Propulsion (HP): 6,600
Machinery: Turbo-electric, 2 boilers (450psi/730deg), 2 screws
Construction:
| T-AO | Name | Acq | Builder | Keel | Launch | Svc |
| 138 | CEDAR CREEK | 18 Jul 1948 | Sun SB & DD | 20 Nov 1943 | 15 Dec 1943 | 18 Jul 1948 |
| 139 | MUIR WOODS | 23 Apr 1948 | Kaiser, Swan Is., Portland | 6 Jan 1945 | 9 Mar 1945 | 23 Apr 1948 |
| 140 | PIONEER VALLEY | 1 May 1948 | Kaiser, Swan Is., Portland | 27 Jul 1944 | 6 Sep 1944 | 1 May 1948 |
| 141 | SAPPA CREEK | 4 Apr 1948 | Alabama DD & SB | 17 Apr 1943 | 15 Sep 1943 | 4 Apr 1948 |
| 142 | SHAWNEE TRAIL | 25 May 1948 | Kaiser, Swan Is., Portland | 18 Apr 1944 | 31 May 1944 | 25 May 1948 |
| 153 | CUMBERLAND | 12 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 3 Feb 1944 | 9 May 1944 | 12 Dec 1956 |
| 154 | LYNCHBURG | 16 Nov 1956 | Kaiser, Swan Is., Portland | 5 Apr 1944 | 20 May 1944 | 16 Nov 1956 |
| 155 | ROANOKE | 6 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 3 Apr 1944 | 30 Jun 1944 | 6 Dec 1956 |
| 156 | BULL RUN | 22 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 13 Mar 1943 | 29 Jun 1943 | 22 Dec 1956 |
| 157 | PAOLI | 2 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 18 Jul 1944 | 31 Oct 1944 | 2 Dec 1956 |
| 158 | ABIQUA | 20 Dec 1956 | Alabama DD & SB | 18 Jun 1943 | 22 Sep 1943 | 20 Dec 1956 |
| 159 | FRENCH CREEK | 12 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 30 Aug 1944 | 8 Dec 1944 | 12 Dec 1956 |
| 160 | LOGAN'S FORT | 12 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 14 Dec 1944 | 30 Mar 1945 | 12 Dec 1956 |
| 161 | LONE JACK | 15 Jan 1957 | Sun SB & DD | 11 Jul 1944 | 21 Oct 1944 | 15 Jan 1957 |
| 162 | MEMPHIS | 23 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 11 Mar 1944 | 17 Jun 1944 | 23 Dec 1956 |
| 163 | PARKERSBURG | 21 Dec 1956 | Sun SB & DD | 30 Dec 1943 | 12 Apr 1944 | 21 Dec 1956 |
| 164 | PETROLITE | 28 Jan 1957 | Sun SB & DD | 12 Oct 1943 | 13 Jan 1944 | 28 Jan 1957 |
Disposition:
| T-AO | Name | T | Inact/Cust | Strike | Disposal | Fate | MA Sale |
| 138 | CEDAR CREEK | T | 1957 | 14 Oct 1957 | 14 Oct 1957 | MA/T | 2 Sep 1975 |
| 139 | MUIR WOODS | T | 1959 | 10 Jun 1959 | 10 Jun 1959 | MA/T | 2 Dec 1975 |
| 140 | PIONEER VALLEY | T | 13 Sep 1972/C | 15 Aug 1972 | 13 Sep 1972 | MA | 9 May 1973 |
| 141 | SAPPA CREEK | T | 7 Dec 1959/C | 1 Jul 1961 | 1 Apr 1961 | MA/T | 2 Dec 1975 |
| 142 | SHAWNEE TRAIL | T | 24 Feb 1972/C | 29 Feb 1972 | 10 Aug 1973 | MA/S | -- |
| 153 | CUMBERLAND | T | 1957 | 26 Nov 1957 | 26 Nov 1957 | MA | 31 Jan 1972 |
| 154 | LYNCHBURG | T | 1957 | 29 Oct 1957 | 29 Oct 1957 | MA | 6 Jun 1969 |
| 155 | ROANOKE | T | 1957 | 21 Oct 1957 | 21 Oct 1957 | MA | 25 Apr 1969 |
| 156 | BULL RUN | T | 1957 | 23 Sep 1957 | 23 Sep 1957 | MA | 25 Apr 1969 |
| 157 | PAOLI | T | 1957 | 2 Oct 1957 | 2 Oct 1957 | MA | 28 Jan 1966 |
| 158 | ABIQUA | T | 1957 | 30 Sep 1957 | 30 Sep 1957 | MA | 12 Apr 1968 |
| 159 | FRENCH CREEK | T | 1957 | 2 Oct 1957 | 2 Oct 1957 | MA | 29 Jan 1971 |
| 160 | LOGAN'S FORT | T | 1957 | 30 Aug 1957 | 30 Aug 1957 | MA | 31 Jan 1972 |
| 161 | LONE JACK | T | 1957 | 7 Oct 1957 | 7 Oct 1957 | MA | 29 Jan 1971 |
| 162 | MEMPHIS | T | 1957 | 13 Sep 1957 | 13 Sep 1957 | MA | 31 May 1971 |
| 163 | PARKERSBURG | T | 1957 | 27 Sep 1957 | 27 Sep 1957 | MA | 5 Dec 1967 |
| 164 | PETROLITE | T | 1957 | 5 Sep 1957 | 5 Sep 1957 | MA | 18 Apr 1969 |
Class Notes:
On 25 Mar 1948 the acting SECNAV informed the Chairman of the Maritime Commission (MC) that the 50 tankers in the process of reactivating or in operation would be inadequate to meet the increased requirements of the armed services and asked for five more T2 tankers, this time of the T2-SE-A1 design, and one T1-M-BT design tanker. (By this time all of the T2-SE-A2s had been assigned.) On 26 March 1948 the MC replied that it would provide the T2's MUIR WOODS, SHAWNEE TRAIL, PIONEER VALLEY, CEDAR CREEK, and SAPPA CREEK, and the T1 VOSHELL (the former Navy PECONIC, AOG 68, q.v.). See the AO 111 class for a full history of the 56 T2 U.S. Naval Tankers (USNT), including 24 former Navy tankers, that were acquired in 1947-48 for the Naval Transportation Service and integrated into the new Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) on 1 Oct 1949.
The five additional T2s consisted of four then being returned by the USSR from Lend Lease with SAPPA CREEK replacing a fifth, DONBASS III (ex BEACON ROCK), which broke in half after being wrecked in the Aleutians in 1946 and was not rebuilt. Like AO 111-136 the hull numbers of AO 138-142 were temporarily assigned for BUSHIPS accounting purposes in alphabetical order of their civilian names, which were retained and prefixed by USNT. Conversion work included voyage repairs, tank cleaning to carry clean cargoes, painting, installation of commercial type navigation radar, and crack arrestor seam-strapping. The urgency of placing all these vessels in active operation to carry clean petroleum products was emphasized in the instructions for their acquisition, and all were in Navy hand by late May 1948. All were reassigned from the Naval Transportation Service to MSTS on 22 September 1949 effective 1 October 1949 as "Non-Commissioned Naval Vessels manned by Civilian Personnel" and then redesignated as US Naval Ships (USNS) by ALNAV 96 in October 1949.
T-AO 153-164 were all added under Fiscal Year 1957. The Suez Crisis erupted into hostilities in late October 1956 followed by the closure of the Suez Canal on 1 November 1956. On 7 November 1956 the Maritime Administrator informed CNO that MARAD had initiated the activation of twelve non-naval T2 tankers and described the circumstances (primarily forecast POL transportation backlogs) that had led to this action. Commander MSTS on 8 November 1956 stated that the same circumstances had also resulted in the activation by MSTS of eight civilian manned tankers (T-AO 111, 120, 123, 124, 126, 129, 131, and 138) and had also prompted CNO to direct the activation of 13 commissioned oilers for use by MSTS. (On 6 November 1956 CNO had directed the Atlantic and Pacific naval reserve fleets to transfer to MSTS 13 former commissioned oilers, AO 25, 27, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 47, 54, 63, 69, and 72, although activation of the ordnance and replenishment at sea installations on these former replenishment oilers was not authorized.) Commander MSTS added that although the POL transportation backlog built up in the late spring and early summer of 1956 had been liquidated as of the end of October, a new but smaller backlog was developing in November and December incident to the normal winter peak. The Middle East crisis had not as yet resulted in any significant increase in military petroleum transportation and MSTS requirements for the twelve MARAD T2's were thus not clear, but Commander MSTS noted that five of the MARAD tankers would become available during November while the remaining seven would not become available until late December 1956 or early January 1957. MSTS recommended to CNO that MARAD be advised that MSTS could utilize the first five T2's being activated by MARAD and that utilization of the remaining seven would depend on developments in the current crisis during the next 30 days. CNO, however, on 8 and 17 November 1956 advised MARAD that the Navy needed the 12 tankers and on 21 November 1956 he asked the Secretary of Commerce for the ships. He noted that the requirements of the military services for petroleum transportation were increasing sharply and that there were firm indications that January 1957 requirements would be particularly high. CNO assigned the hull numbers (T-AO 153-164) and Navy names of the ships on 28 Nov 1956. The Secretary of Commerce approved the transfer of the twelve ships on 14 December 1956. The Navy operated T-AO 153-164 under custody agreements with MARAD and never held title to them. The MSTS service of these ships was short, and all had been returned to the MARAD reserve fleet and stricken from the Navy List by the end of 1957.
At the end of August 1966 the activation of eleven T2 tankers was being planned under the Army Materiel Command's Project Powerfloat for use as floating power plants which would generate electricity using their 6,000 hp turbo-electric main propulsion plants. (Some records show them as YFPA, or Army floating power barges.) There was a firm requirement for seven ships to be anchored at Cam Ranh Bay (3 ships), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon, with Vung Tau, Long Binh, and a fourth ship at Cam Ranh Bay also being considered. The electricity they generated was to be transferred to power substations ashore by cable. CUMBERLAND, MEMPHIS, and LOGAN'S FORT were converted at Newport News while FRENCH CREEK and LONE JACK were converted by Todd, Seattle, and LYNCHBURG was cancelled. Ex-USS ESCAMBIA (AO 80), KENNEBAGO (AO 81), CAHABA (AO 82), SEBEC (AO 87), CANEY (AO 95), and TAMALPAIS (AO 96) were also used in Project Powerfloat.
On 18 January 1970 the Commander of MSC informed CNO that he had decided to inactivate a portion of the MSC T2 tanker fleet due to operating costs and current MSC tanker requirements. As a result, T-AO 67, 77, and 78 were to be transferred to the permanent custody of MARAD with recommendation for retention in the NDRF for mobilization purposes and T-AO 111, 140, and 142 were to be transferred to the temporary custody of MARAD without recommendation for retention in the NDRF. In addition, T-AO 116, 128, and 138 were to be removed from the NDRF retention list and made available for scrapping.
Ship Notes:
| T-AO | Name | MC | Notes |
| 138 | CEDAR CREEK | 395 | Completed 27 Dec 1943 and to USSR 30 Apr 1944 under Lend-lease as TAGANROG. Returned to MC at Yokohama 27 Mar 1948, to Navy 4 Apr 1948 after discharge of commercial cargo at Port Arthur, Texas, then to commercial operator 6 Apr 1948 and proceeded to Norfolk for conversion. In USN reserve 15 Sep 1954 to 1 Nov 1956. Struck again 1 Feb 1972 when removed from the NDRF retention list. To buyer 29 Sep 1975. |
| 139 | MUIR WOODS | 2411 | Completed 22 Mar 1945 and to USSR the same date under Lend-lease as ELBRUS. Returned to MC at Trieste 20 Feb 1948, loaded a cargo of fuel oil in the Persian Gulf on 21 Mar 1948, and as of 9 Apr 1948 was due at New York about 14 Apr 1948. To Navy after discharge of commercial cargo. To buyer 18 Mar 1976. |
| 140 | PIONEER VALLEY | 1947 | Completed 4 Oct 1944 and to USSR the same date under Lend-lease as KRASNAYA ARMIYA. (The midnight transfer was also recorded as 30 Apr 1948.) Returned to MC 20 Feb 1948 at Hong Kong, due in New York with a dirty cargo about 21 Apr 1948. To Navy after discharge of commercial cargo and gas freeing. To MA custody 18 Mar 1960, to MA (permanent) 1 Apr 1961, stk. 1 Jul 1961, from MA 13 Nov 1961, reinst. Nov 1961. Originally scheduled to strike 30 Jun 1972 but as of 28 Feb 1972 was being considered for foreign military sale in June 1972. Declared in excess of future requirements 31 Aug 1972 and to MA custody (temporary) 13 Sep 1972. To buyer 30 May 1973. |
| 141 | SAPPA CREEK | 544 | Completed 29 Oct 1943, in layup in the James River July 1946 to May 1947. Transferred in place of the wrecked Soviet DONBASS III (ex BEACON ROCK). As of 31 March 1948 SAPPA CREEK was operated by Keystone Shipping Co. and was due at Norfolk with a cargo of Navy Special Fuel Oil (NSFO) on 3 Apr 1948. To Navy after discharge of commercial cargo and to Marine Transport Line, Inc. (Matralines) for operation 6 Apr 1948. To MA custody 7 Dec 1959. To buyer 13 Jan 1976. |
| 142 | SHAWNEE TRAIL | 1928 | Completed 28 Jun 1944 and to USSR the same date under Lend-lease as EMBA II. Returned to MC 9 Mar 1948 at Yokohama and due in New York with a dirty cargo about 10 May 1948. To Navy after discharge of commercial cargo and gas freeing. (The midnight transfer to the Navy was also recorded as 24 May 1948.) To MA (permanent) and stk. 1 Nov 1957, from MA 20 Jan 1965 and reinstated 1 Feb 1965 to replace MISSION SAN ANTONIO. To MA custody (temporary) 24 Feb 1972. To buyer 7 Sep 1973. |
| 153 | CUMBERLAND | 1736 | (ex-ESSO CUMBERLAND Oct 1956, ex-FORT CUMBERLAND 22 Nov 1946.) Completed 27 May 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 22 Sep 1955. To Marine Transport Lines 2 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Mathiasen's Tanker Industries of Philadelphia for operation 13 Dec 56. To Army for Project Powerfloat (YFPA) 28 May 1966, stationed at Qui Nhon, then Cam Ranh Bay. Sold there Feb 1972 to BU at Kaohsiung. |
| 154 | LYNCHBURG | 1926 | (ex-ESSO LYNCHBURG Oct 1956, ex-STANVAC BRISBANE Feb 1951, ex-CHALMETTE 1948.) Completed 19 Jun 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 10 Oct 1955. To Marine Transport Lines 1 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Matralines for operation 17 Nov 56 (170001Z). To Army for Project Powerfloat (YFPA) 10 May 1966 but returned 6 Jun 1966. Sold under MA exchange program for conversion to bulk sulphur carrier, to buyer 9 Jun 1969, renamed MARINE DUVAL 12 Jun 1969, stern joined to new forepart and converted to liquid sulphur carrier 22 Apr 1970. To DUVA 2002 and BU at Alang 14 Nov 2002. |
| 155 | ROANOKE | 1747 | (ex-ESSO ROANOKE Oct 1956.) Completed 14 Jul 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 29 Sep 1955. To Marine Transport Lines 1 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Matralines for operation 6 Dec 1956. Sold under MA exchange program for conversion to container ship, to buyer 28 Apr 1969, stern joined to forepart of merc. BALTIMORE (ex C4 MARINE CARDINAL) by Willamette Iron & Steel, Portland, Ore. and converted to container ship, renamed BALTIMORE 18 Mar 1970. BU Mar 1985. |
| 156 | BULL RUN | 354 | Completed 12 Jul 1943. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 16 Dec 1954. To Blidberg Rothchild Co. 3 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Mathiasen for operation 22 Dec 1956. Sold under MA exchange program, to buyer 25 Apr 1969, stern joined to forepart of previously converted container ship ANCHORAGE (ex C4 MARINE PANTHER) by Todd, Seattle, renamed ANCHORAGE 15 Dec 1969. Sold 23 Apr 1981 to BU. |
| 157 | PAOLI | 1770 | Completed 11 Nov 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 23 Mar 1955. To Marine Transport Lines 5 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Mathiasen for operation 2 Dec 1956 (midnight 1 Dec 1956). Sold under MA exchange program and renamed MARINE FLORIDIAN 28 Jan 1966, to buyer 2 Feb 1966, conversion to molten sulphur carrier with stern joined to new forepart completed 9 Jun 1967. To BELOFIN FLORIDIAN 1997 and BU at Alang 7 May 1997. |
| 158 | ABIQUA | 548 | Completed 31 Oct 1943. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 15 Dec 1954. To T J Stevenson & Co. 10 Nov 1956 for reactivation, accepted from MARAD and transferred to Matralines for operation 21 Dec 1956 (midnight 20 Dec EST). Sold under MA exchange program, to buyer 22 Apr 1968, stern joined to forepart of bulk carrier WILDURA (ex T2 tanker BEAR PAW), name ABIQUA retained. Cypriot ASSOS 7 Dec 1973, ULRICA 1974, BU at Kaohsiung 17 Apr 1978. |
| 159 | FRENCH CREEK | 1777 | Completed 20 Dec 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 31 May 1955. To Lykes Bros. SS Co. 13 Nov 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Mathiasen Tanker Ind. for operation 12 Dec 1956. To Army for Project Powerfloat (YFPA) 7 Mar 1966, converted at Seattle to mobile electric supply station in April 1966 and arrived at Cam Ranh Bay in June. Sold there to BU in Taiwan, to buyer 6 Mar 1971. |
| 160 | LOGAN'S FORT | 2431 | Completed 11 Apr 1945. Traded in by owner 24 Jun 1955. To Lykes Bros. SS Co. 9 Nov 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Mathiasen Tanker Ind. for operation 12 Dec 1956. To Army for Project Powerfloat (YFPA) 3 Jun 1966. Sold at Cam Ranh Bay to BU in Taiwan. |
| 161 | LONE JACK | 1767 | Completed 31 Oct 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 23 Dec 1954. To Marine Transport Lines 4 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted (orally) from MARAD and transferred to Matralines Tanker Ind. for operation 15 Jan 1957. To Army for Project Powerfloat (YFPA) 10 Mar 1966, converted at Seattle in April 1966 and arrived at Cam Ranh Bay in June. Sold there to BU in Taiwan. |
| 162 | MEMPHIS | 1745 | (ex-ESSO MEMPHIS Oct 1956.) Completed 28 Jun 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 6 Oct 1955. To T J Stevenson & Co. 12 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Matralines for operation 23 Dec 1956. To Army for Project Powerfloat (YFPA) 28 May 1966. Sold at Qui Nhon, Vietnam, to BU. |
| 163 | PARKERSBURG | 1731 | (ex-ESSO PARKERSBURG Oct 1956, ex-FORT CORNWALLIS 23 Oct 1946). Completed 27 Apr 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 5 Oct 1955. To Marine Transport Lines 2 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Accepted from MARAD and transferred to Matralines for operation 21 Dec 1956. Sold under MA exchange program, to buyer 6 Dec 1967 and renamed MARINE EAGLE 11 Dec 1967, stern joined to new forepart and converted to chemical carrier for refrigerated anhydrous ammonia 1 Apr 1969. Sold 28 Apr 1984, BU at Kaohsiung 12 Nov 1984. |
| 164 | PETROLITE | 1723 | (ex-HANGING ROCK 12 Aug 1946.) Completed 31 Jan 1944. Traded in by owner to MA (NDRF) 17 Dec 1954. To A L Burbank & Co. 3 Oct 1956 for reactivation. Contract operated. Sold under MA exchange program for conversion to dry cargo ship, to buyer 21 Apr 1969, stern joined to forepart of SEATTLE (ex C4 MARINE FOX) and converted to container ship by Todd, San Francisco, renamed SEATTLE 5 Jan 1970. Sold 19 Oct 1984, BU in Spain. |
Page Notes:
Compiled: 18 Sep 2021
© Stephen S. Roberts, 2021
Special sources: Thomas Wildenberg, Gray Steel and Black Oil (Annapolis, 1996)