USS CHEWAUCAN AOG 50

• Namesake: USS Chewaucan (AOG-50) was named after the Chewaucan River in Oregon, following the Navy tradition of naming gasoline tankers after rivers with Native American names. • Class and Type: Chewaucan was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker, specifically designed for the dangerous duty of transporting gasoline to warships and remote naval stations. • Launch and Commission: The ship was launched on 4 September 1944 by Cargill, Inc. in Savage, Minnesota, and commissioned into service on 1 May 1945. • World War II Service: Although commissioned near the end of World War II, Chewaucan supported occupation forces in Japan, delivering gasoline and lubricants to several ports in the Far East. • Postwar Operations: After WWII, Chewaucan continued to serve in the Pacific, operating out of Pearl Harbor and supporting the U.S. Trust Territories and various islands in the Pacific until 1955. • Reserve and Recommissioning: Placed in reserve in 1955, Chewaucan was recommissioned in 1961 as part of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), continuing logistics operations. • Dangerous Cargo: As an AOG (gasoline tanker), Chewaucan's duty was considered highly hazardous due to the volatile cargo—any enemy action or accident could have catastrophic consequences. • International Service: In 1972, Chewaucan was transferred to the Colombian Navy and served as ARC Tumaco (BT-7), extending her service life under a new flag. • Ship's Motto: Like many fleet oilers and tankers, Chewaucan’s unofficial motto emphasized her vital but often overlooked role: “You can’t fight without fuel.” • Legacy: Ships like Chewaucan played a critical role in enabling fleet operations far from home ports, demonstrating the importance of logistics and support vessels in naval history.