USS Caney

Summary

USS Caney (AO-95) was an Escambia-class replenishment oiler acquired by the United States Navy for use during World War II. She had the dangerous but necessary task of providing fuel to vessels in combat and non-combat areas. She served in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of operations late in the war, and returned home with two battle stars.

History
United States
NameUSS Caney
NamesakeCaney River in Kansas and Oklahoma
BuilderMarinship, Sausalito, California
Launched8 October 1944
Commissioned25 March 1945
Decommissioned27 February 1946
Stricken27 February 1946
AcquiredFebruary 1948
In service18 July 1950, as USNS Caney (T-AO-95)
Out of service(date unknown)
Stricken(date unknown)
Honors and
awards
2 battle stars (World War II)
Fate
  • Acquired by the US Army, 1966
  • Scrapped 1974
General characteristics
TypeEscambia-class replenishment oiler
Displacement
  • 5,782 long tons (5,875 t) light
  • 21,880 long tons (22,231 t) full
Length523 ft 6 in (159.56 m)
Beam68 ft (21 m)
Draft30 ft 10 in (9.40 m)
PropulsionTurbo-electric, single screw, 8,000 shp (5,966 kW)
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Capacity140,000 barrels (22,000 m3)
Complement267
Armament

Caney was launched on 8 October 1944 by Marinship Corp., Sausalito, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. J. L. Simpson; acquired by the Navy on 25 March 1945, and commissioned the same day and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

World War II Pacific Theatre operations edit

Caney sailed from San Pedro, California, on 12 May 1945 for Ulithi, the base from which she operated while fueling ships serving on radar picket and patrol duties at Okinawa. From 3 July through the end of the war, she steamed with the logistic group supporting task force TF 38 in its bombardments and air strikes pounding the Japanese home islands.

End-of-war activity edit

The oiler remained off Okinawa serving ships engaged in occupation duty until 16 November, when she got underway for San Francisco, California, and Galveston, Texas. Caney was decommissioned on 27 February 1946 at Beaumont, Texas, and delivered to the War Shipping Administration the same day.

Service under MSTS edit

Reacquired by the Navy in February 1948, she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service on 18 July 1950, where she served as USNS Caney (T-AO-95) in a noncommissioned status with a civilian crew.

Caney was placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register on 21 May 1959. She was then transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, Alabama.

Service under the U.S. Army edit

Caney was acquired by the United States Army in 1966 and converted at Bender Shipbuilding and Repair Co., Mobile, Alabama, into a floating power station for Vietnam service.

Fate edit

She was sold for scrapping on 9 September 1974, at Vung Tau, South Vietnam.

Awards edit

Caney received two battle stars for World War II service.

References edit

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links edit

  • Navsource USS Caney (AO-95)