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USS Rapidan (AO-18)
Encyclopedia
USS Rapidan (AO-18), built under U.S. Shipping Board contract, was laid down 2 February 1919 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia
; launched 25 October 1919; authorized for transfer to the Navy 29 October 1921; and commissioned 1 January 1922, Comdr. M. P. Nash, USNRF, in command.
Assigned to the Naval Transport Service, Rapidan remained in commission for only 6 months, most of which was spent at Norfolk. Ordered inactivated in March, Rapidan decommissioned 22 June 1922 and was berthed with the James River Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet, until recommissioned 22 January 1940, Lt. Comdr. J. B. Mallard in command.
For the 18 months following her second commissioning, Rapidan carried fuel from the Texas
oil ports to ships and stations in the Caribbean
and along the U.S. Atlantic coast. Between September 1941 and November 1942, she supplied petroleum products to Atlantic Fleet units at Halifax
, NS Argentia
, Reykjavík
, Hvalfjörður
, and various ports in Greenland
. Then, after overhaul, she served as escort oiler on a convoy to Casablanca
. On her return to New York
, in early February 1943, Rapidan resumed operations off the northeast coast, steaming between New York, Boston
, Portland, Maine
, and Argentia until April when she got underway for her first Mediterranean convoy. Fueling units en route, she arrived at Gibraltar
24 May, continued on to Oran
, discharged her cargo, then returned to the United States and coastal operations. In July while at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Rapidan had installed new secret Mark 29 "anti torpedo" gear. In September she resumed Caribbean operations and on the 11th was damaged by an underwater explosion
some 100 yards off the starboard quarter from a torpedo. The explosion of the torpedo was caused by the anti torpedo gear and it resulted in damage to the hull plates. Repairs were completed at Charleston
; and, on the 25th, she resumed her oil runs, operating as far south as the Netherlands West Indies, and as far north as Argentia.
In March 1944 Rapidan was ordered to the Pacific. Transiting the Panama Canal
19 March, she steamed up the west coast to Seattle, whence she carried her liquid cargo to Kodiak
, Cold Bay, Dutch Harbor, and other Aleutian ports. Including periodic assignments as station tanker at Attu
and Adak
, the oiler continued on the Alaska
n shuttle until 28 June 1946. Then, ordered back to the east coast, she transited the Panama Canal 2 August and on the 11th reported to the 5th Naval District for inactivation.
Decommissioned 17 September 1946 at Portsmouth, Virginia
, Rapidan was transferred to the Maritime Commission 18 September 1946 and her name was struck from the Navy List 29 October 1946. On 10 September 1947 she was sold to the Northern Metals Co. for scrap.
The wartime skipper of the USS Rapidan, Captain Thomas Harris Moriarty, died in southern Alabama on October 9, 2009 at the age of 91, two weeks after attending a reunion of the ship's crew.http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary-print.aspx?n=thomas-harris-moriarty&pid=134256547
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
; launched 25 October 1919; authorized for transfer to the Navy 29 October 1921; and commissioned 1 January 1922, Comdr. M. P. Nash, USNRF, in command.
Assigned to the Naval Transport Service, Rapidan remained in commission for only 6 months, most of which was spent at Norfolk. Ordered inactivated in March, Rapidan decommissioned 22 June 1922 and was berthed with the James River Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet, until recommissioned 22 January 1940, Lt. Comdr. J. B. Mallard in command.
For the 18 months following her second commissioning, Rapidan carried fuel from the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
oil ports to ships and stations in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and along the U.S. Atlantic coast. Between September 1941 and November 1942, she supplied petroleum products to Atlantic Fleet units at Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, NS Argentia
Naval Station Argentia
Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994. It was established in the community of Argentia in what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland, which later became the tenth Canadian province .-Construction:Established under the British-U.S...
, Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Hvalfjörður
Hvalfjörður
Hvalfjörður is situated in the west of Iceland between Mosfellsbær and Akranes. The fjord is approximately 30 km long and 5 km wide....
, and various ports in Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. Then, after overhaul, she served as escort oiler on a convoy to Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
. On her return to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in early February 1943, Rapidan resumed operations off the northeast coast, steaming between New York, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, and Argentia until April when she got underway for her first Mediterranean convoy. Fueling units en route, she arrived at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
24 May, continued on to Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, discharged her cargo, then returned to the United States and coastal operations. In July while at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Rapidan had installed new secret Mark 29 "anti torpedo" gear. In September she resumed Caribbean operations and on the 11th was damaged by an underwater explosion
Underwater explosion
An underwater explosion, also known as an UNDEX, is an explosion beneath the surface of water. The type of explosion may be chemical or nuclear...
some 100 yards off the starboard quarter from a torpedo. The explosion of the torpedo was caused by the anti torpedo gear and it resulted in damage to the hull plates. Repairs were completed at Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
; and, on the 25th, she resumed her oil runs, operating as far south as the Netherlands West Indies, and as far north as Argentia.
In March 1944 Rapidan was ordered to the Pacific. Transiting the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
19 March, she steamed up the west coast to Seattle, whence she carried her liquid cargo to Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
, Cold Bay, Dutch Harbor, and other Aleutian ports. Including periodic assignments as station tanker at Attu
Attu Island
Attu is the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, making it the westernmost point of land relative to Alaska and the United States. It was the site of the only World War II land battle fought on the incorporated territory of the United States ,...
and Adak
Adak Island
Adak Island is an island near the western extent of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Alaska's southernmost town, Adak, is located on the island...
, the oiler continued on the Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n shuttle until 28 June 1946. Then, ordered back to the east coast, she transited the Panama Canal 2 August and on the 11th reported to the 5th Naval District for inactivation.
Decommissioned 17 September 1946 at Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, Rapidan was transferred to the Maritime Commission 18 September 1946 and her name was struck from the Navy List 29 October 1946. On 10 September 1947 she was sold to the Northern Metals Co. for scrap.
The wartime skipper of the USS Rapidan, Captain Thomas Harris Moriarty, died in southern Alabama on October 9, 2009 at the age of 91, two weeks after attending a reunion of the ship's crew.http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary-print.aspx?n=thomas-harris-moriarty&pid=134256547
See also
- List of ship launches in 1919
- List of ship commissionings in 1922
- List of ship decommissionings in 1946
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org