The T3 tanker, or T3, are a class of sea worthy large tanker ships used to transport fuel oil, gasoline or diesel before and during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The T3 tanker classification is still used today.
T3 tankers are about 500 to 650 feet in length and are able to sustain a top speed from 15 to 18 knots. The T3 tanker is larger, and usually faster, than a T2 tanker. The hull designation AOG is used by the US Navy to denote that the ship is a T3 gasoline tanker. The AO designation denotes that the ship is a T3 fleet oiler, also referred to as a replenishment oiler (AOR).
Most of the T3 ships were built for private companies, and named by the manufacturer. Some T3 tankers were built for or sold to the US Navy, which were renamed using the names of Native Americans, rivers and lakes.
The T3 tanker can carry from about 133,800 to 200,000 BBLs. Some T3 tankers were used to transport other goods like black oil-crude oil and chemicals. T3s are also called liquid cargo carriers. The T3 tanker has roughly a full load displacement of about 24,830 tons.
T3 tankers are operated by the US Navy, War Shipping Administration and United States Maritime Commission.
Each T3 has emergency life rafts on the boat deck. The ships have cargo booms and piping to load and unload fuel. During wartime, the T3 ships were armed for protection with deck guns. A typical ship may have one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun, two 40 mm guns and three single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons. T3 ships normally carries 81 to 304 crew members. If operating as a United States Merchant Marine ship, the crew would be a mix of civilian Merchant Marines and United States Navy Armed Guards to man the deck guns.