About this Unit
USS Mattabasset (AOG-52) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Designed to transport gasoline and other petroleum products, she played a vital logistical role in fueling ships and remote bases, particularly during the closing months of World War II and throughout the Cold War. After serving in the Pacific and Atlantic fleets, Mattabasset continued her operations during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, supporting naval and allied forces with critical fuel deliveries. She was decommissioned in 1975 after three decades of service, reflecting the essential, behind-the-scenes work of naval auxiliary vessels.
Historical Facts
• Specialized Vessel: USS Mattabasset (AOG-52) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker, designed specifically to transport gasoline and other petroleum products to warships and remote naval stations, a dangerous job due to the flammable cargo.
• Launched in 1944: The ship was launched on 28 August 1944 by Cargill, Inc., in Savage, Minnesota, and commissioned into service on 16 April 1945, just as World War II was ending.
• World War II Service: Although commissioned late in World War II, Mattabasset supported occupation forces and supplied fuel to American units in the Pacific, including stops in the Philippines, Japan, and Okinawa.
• Postwar Operations: After WWII, Mattabasset continued to serve in the Pacific, providing critical fuel support during the early Cold War era and participating in the logistical backbone of US naval operations.
• Korean War Role: During the Korean War, Mattabasset played a vital support role, transporting fuel between Japan and Korea, ensuring the operational readiness of UN and US fleets.
• Vietnam War Service: The ship later participated in the Vietnam War, supplying fuel to US and allied ships operating off the coast of Vietnam, often operating in hazardous and contested waters.
• Longest-Serving AOG: USS Mattabasset was one of the longest-serving gasoline tankers of her class, remaining active from 1945 until 1975, a service span of 30 years.
• Decommissioning and Fate: The vessel was decommissioned in 1975 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register, eventually being sold for scrapping in 1976.
• Namesake: The ship was named after the Mattabesset River in Connecticut, following the US Navy tradition of naming gasoline tankers after rivers with Native American names.
• Hazardous Duty: Due to the volatility of its cargo, Mattabasset and her crew routinely faced significant dangers, including the constant risk of explosion from enemy attack or operational accidents, earning respect for their hazardous but essential role.
