USS Ponchatoula (AOG-38)
Encyclopedia
USS Ponchatoula (AOG-38) was a Mettawee-class
gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.
Ponchatoula was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1801) by the East Coast Shipyards, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey
, 7 June 1944; launched 30 July 1944; sponsored by Miss Cynthia Tenety; delivered to the Navy 30 September 1944; and commissioned 6 October 1944, Lt. W. G. Peyton in command.
, Ponchatoula departed the U.S. East Coast 13 December 1944, took on oil in the Netherlands West Indies and continued on to San Diego, California
.
, whence she shuttled gasoline
to Canton Island in February. In March, she sailed for Ulithi
with a cargo of aviation gasoline and diesel fuel and in May crossed the remaining distance to Okinawa in convoy
UOK–11, anchoring off the Hagushi
beaches on the 16th. Assigned to shuttle oil and gasoline from larger tankers to the fleet’s smaller ships, she shifted to Ie Shima, on the 19th and to Kerama Retto
on the 29th. Remaining in the area through the end of World War II, Ponchatoula continued her shuttle service until 14 December 1945 when she got underway for the United States
and inactivation.
31 May 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for further disposal 9 September 1946.
The ship was named "Ponchatoula" after the residents of Ponchatoula, Louisiana
saw huge success in their war effort's scrap metal
drive. Those who served on the ship have held reunions in their ship's namesake town. The ship's bell was donated to the town at a reunion 5 May 2010 and stands at the Ponchatoula City Hall on a makeshift mast.
Mettawee class gasoline tanker
The Mettawee-class gasoline tanker was a class of small gasoline tankers based on the Maritime Commission standard T1-M-A2 hull that served in World War II. The ships were completed between 1943 and 1945. Despite being charged with the dangerous task of carrying a highly volatile cargo into...
gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.
Ponchatoula was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1801) by the East Coast Shipyards, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
, 7 June 1944; launched 30 July 1944; sponsored by Miss Cynthia Tenety; delivered to the Navy 30 September 1944; and commissioned 6 October 1944, Lt. W. G. Peyton in command.
World War II service
Following shakedownShakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
, Ponchatoula departed the U.S. East Coast 13 December 1944, took on oil in the Netherlands West Indies and continued on to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Pacific Ocean operations
On 19 January 1945 she headed for Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, whence she shuttled gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
to Canton Island in February. In March, she sailed for Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
with a cargo of aviation gasoline and diesel fuel and in May crossed the remaining distance to Okinawa in convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
UOK–11, anchoring off the Hagushi
Hagushi
Hagushi bay was the primary unloading point for American supplies during the invasion of Okinawa during World War II. The bay, at the mouth of the Bishi River , was the dividing line between the First and Sixth US Marine divisions, which landed on the Hagushi beaches to the north, and the Seventh...
beaches on the 16th. Assigned to shuttle oil and gasoline from larger tankers to the fleet’s smaller ships, she shifted to Ie Shima, on the 19th and to Kerama Retto
Kerama Retto
The are a group of 22 islands located southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan. Four of the islands are inhabited:,., and. The islands are within Shimajiri District. The Kerama-shotō coral reef is a Ramsar Site....
on the 29th. Remaining in the area through the end of World War II, Ponchatoula continued her shuttle service until 14 December 1945 when she got underway for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and inactivation.
Post-war decommissioning
Decommissioned at Mare Island, California, 24 April 1946, Ponchatoula was struck from the Navy ListNavy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
31 May 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for further disposal 9 September 1946.
The ship was named "Ponchatoula" after the residents of Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula is a city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,180 at the 2000 census. Ponchatoula calls itself the "Strawberry Capital of the World". It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor is Bob Zabbia.-Geography:Ponchatoula is...
saw huge success in their war effort's scrap metal
Scrap Metal
Scrap Metal were a band from Broome, Western Australia who played rock music with elements of country and reggae. The members had Aboriginal, Irish, Filipino, French, Chinese, Scottish, Indonesian and Japanese heritage. The band toured nationally as part of the Bran Nue Dae musical and with...
drive. Those who served on the ship have held reunions in their ship's namesake town. The ship's bell was donated to the town at a reunion 5 May 2010 and stands at the Ponchatoula City Hall on a makeshift mast.