< < < USS Truckee Statistics
- Classification:
- Type: Neosho Class Fleet Oiler
- Class: AO
- Builder: Laid down, 21 December 1953, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
- UIC: 05907
- Characteristics:
- Length: 655 feet
- Beam: 86 feet
- Draft: 35 feet
- Displacement: 11,600 tons (lt), 38,000 tons (fl)
- Cargo Capacity: 180,000 bbls
- Crew (USS): 324
- Propulsion: 2 geared turbines, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 28,000 shaft hp
- Speed: 20 knots
- Armament: 1 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, 4 twin 3"/50 gun mounts, .50 cal. machine guns
- Key Dates:
- Launched: 3/10/1955
- Official Commissioning Ceremony: 11/23/1955
- Decommissioned: 1/30/1980, placed in service with MSC as USNS Truckee (T-AO-147)
- Placed out of service in 1994
- Struck from the Naval Register, 18 July 1997
- Title transfer to MARAD, 5/1/99, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
< < < The Captains List
- 1955-1956 Captain J. W. Leverton, Jr.
- 1956-1957 Captain W. C. Norvell
- 1957-1958 Captain W. H. Baumberger
- 1958-1959 Captain E. R. King
- 1959-1960 Captain O. R. Cole
- 1960-1961 Captain N. E. Thomas
- 1961-1962 Captain S. L. Johnson
- 1962-1963 Captain P. T. Glennon
- 1963-1964 Captain C. J. Zurcher
- 1964-1965 Captain R. N. Moss
- 1965-1966 Captain James Ferris
- 1966-1967 Capt. Walter Chadwick
- 1967-1968 Capt. Freeman
- 1968-1970 Capt. Robert Murrill
- 1970-1971 Capt. R. E. Oechslin
- 1971-1973 Capt. W. K. Doty
- 1973-1974 Capt. Joy
- 1974-1976 Capt. Gilfry
- 1976-1977 Capt. Lowell Myers
- 1977-1978 Capt. Thomas Watson
- 1978-1979 Capt. D. E. Hernandez
< < < The Ship's Departments (5)
Deck Department was divided into 3 divisions:
-
First Division took care of most of the topside spaces and equipment on the forward half of the ship.
They were also responsible for the anchor, forward lines (when docking) and maintenance and operation of the Captain's Gig and #1 utility boat.
They manned stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and the highline during underway replenishment.
-
Second Division took care of most of the topside spaces and equipment on the after half of the ship.
They were rsponsible for the after lines when docking and the maintenance and operation of the motor whale boats and #2 utility boat.
They manned stations 5, 6, 7 and 8 during underway replenishment.
-
Fox Division was the gunnery division.
They were responsible for the maintenance and operation of the gun mounts, fire control systems, magazines and all below deck gunnery spaces.
Engineering Department was divided into 5 divisions:
-
A Division handles all the auxiliary machinery and auxiliary steam piping on the ship.
This includes the deck winches, all cargo pumps, the diesel pumps and engines., and the equipment in the scullery and laundry, also the air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.
A division also maintains the boat engines.
-
B Division has charge of the fireroom.
This includes No.1 and No.2 boilers and all the associated equipment.
B division is also responsible for the ship's fresh water pumps, the ship's oil (bunker) system, and the oil laboratory.
-
E Division is responsible for all ship's generators, the main and emergency switch boards, all light and power, and the gyro compass.
E division also has cognizance of the degaussing equipment, all the inter-communications equipment and telephone circuits, the steering motors (electrical), and the electrical shop.
-
M Division is responsible for the two main engines, evaporators, the ship's service generators, main shafting and bearings, and the care and stowage of lube oil.
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R Division has the responsibility for liquid cargo, the carpenter shop, and the shipfitter shop.
The upkeep of all damage control repair lockers and all associated equipment is part of their job.
R Division also has charge of the cargo systems, shipboard repair, and the co2 systems.
Operations Department is responsible for the upkeep, maintenance, and operation of all electronic equipment (such as radar and radios), signaling equipment, and navigational equipment on the ship.
The men in this department plot the ship's courses at sea, provide a combat information center, and provide various communications facilities such as are found only in the navy.
The radioman, radarman, signalman, quartermaster, and electronics technician-each contributes his part to the important overall mission of operations.
Supply Department takes care of all ship's facilities - the laundry, the soda fountain, the galley, the stockroom, the barber shop, tailor shop, clothing and small stores - were designed to create a product.
That product is service.
To operate supply's facilities requires a diversity of skill and rates.
It takes the commissarymen, the storekeepers, the disbursing clerks, the stewards, and the ship's servicement to turn out supply's most important product, service.
X Division handled most of the ship's business.
In the ship's office, the yeomen handle the brunt of the paperwork generated by the various departments on the ship, the personnelmen handle the entire job of service records and personnel transfers and orders, and together they share the tasks of compliling everything from seralized letters from the command to daily printing of the plan of the day.
Late hours, long days hovered over the typewriter, and much time spent in delving for the correct way to do things in a number of manuals - this is their job.
In addition to running the ship's office, x division also includes the medical department (composed of the hospital corpsmen), and the chief master-at arms (responsible for the ship's own police force).
And there was the Post Office that brought us all those memories from home.
I don't think there was anything more important in the life of a sailor at sea than getting that letter or package from home.
X Division is essential to the operation of the ship. dentists in essex
< < < How to use this site.
This is the USS Truckee Crew Networking Site.
We NETWORK to find other shipmates.
There are many military sites on the Web.
They all operate the same way by letting you put your name on the Ship Roster IF you happen upon their web site.
The reason we go to those sites is to find our buddies from the past.
That system just doesn't work!
By pooling our resources, communicating and sharing information we can find those shipmates.
Everyone one of us has information that can be shared so let's share it!.
As President J.F. Kennedy once said in a speech: "Ask not what this web site can do for you, ask what YOU can do for this web site!" (or something like that)
< < < Truckee guns removed
This information was sent to me by Larry Browndyke:
A couple of items to note the Truckee originally had 2 5" 38's and 6 3" 50's.
The 5" ers were removed for more cargo space forward and to install the helo platform aft.
Later the midship 3" 50'S were removed for the installation of service force command above the wardroom.
< < < FOR SALE BY OWNER - 1 USS Truckee!
That's correct...the USS Truckee is for sale.
If you would like to make an offer (or just curious and would like to read about it) then click on this link.
Personally, I'd like to buy it myself but I really don't think it would fit in that little creek beside my house...
< < < New book about the Truckee!
While doing research on the USS Truckee, I came across a web site administered by Vern Bouwman that dealt with all the "Super Tankers".
See: NavyMemorieshop.com link on our links page.
Vern is an expert on these tankers as well as being a fine author.
He is in the process of having his book "Navy Super Tankers" published by Trafford Publishing.
After reading some of the contents, I ordered a copy.
Aside from bringing back old memories...it's a perfect way to show family and friends "exactly" what we did aboard these ships.
You can order your copy by clicking on this picture of the book:
< < < Part of Truckee in Hawaii?
This from Ed Frank:
If you ever go to Honolulu, there is a maritime museum related to Hawaiian sea history.
I was there last year on businsess and took a break to go to the museum.
Next to the museum is a park and at the head of the park is a ships propeller.
Inscribed in the screw is AO147.
Apparently a spare made up which ultimately ended up in Honolulu?
< < < Use the Forum to track down shipmates!
The Truckee Forum is a message board. You can start a subject, post an
answer to someone else's message or just express your thoughts and opinions.
I imagine most people will use it to network, share information and try to
find those lost buddies! TIP: If you're trying to locate someone,
put that persons name in the "Subject" line. That way it will catch the eye
of others who know that person.
< < < Cold War Certificate Program
In accordance with section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National Defense
Authorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding Cold War
Recognition Certificates to all members of the armed forces and
qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and
honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era,
which is defined as Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991.
You can get yours by going here.
< < < Submit your news item!
Have a news item about the Truckee? Just email it to me (Steve "Louie"
Lewis) and I will post it here.
