USS Kanawha (AO-1)
USS Kanawha (AO-1)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Laid down: | 8 December 1913 |
| Launched: | 11 July 1914 |
| Commissioned: |
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| Decommissioned: | 18 December 1929 |
| Struck: | 19 May 1943 |
| Honors and awards: |
World War I Victory Medal (with Transport clasp) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)/American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal |
| Fate: | Sunk on 8 April 1943 by Japanese aircraft off Tulagi, Solomon Islands |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Kanawha-class fleet replenishment oiler |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 475 ft 7 in (144.96 m) |
| Beam: | 56 ft 3 in (17.15 m) |
| Draft: | 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) |
| Speed: | 14 knots |
| Complement: | 317 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
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The third USS Kanawha (AO-1) (originally Fuel Ship No. 13) was the first purpose-built oiler of the US Navy. She was laid down 8 December 1913 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California; launched 11 July 1914; sponsored by Miss Dorothy Bennett; and commissioned 5 June 1915, Lt. Comdr. Richard Werner, USNRF, in command.
Kanawha cleared San Diego 9 June 1915 and arrived Newport, Rhode Island, for service with the Atlantic Fleet. During the following year the oiler made seven trips to Port Arthur, Texas, for fuel oil and gasoline. On 11 October 1916 Kanawha was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. Then, in addition to her fueling duties, she participated in tactical exercises, carried mail, and towed targets.
After the United States entered World War I on 6 April 1917, the oiler was assigned to Commander, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet, as an escort for the first A.B.F. sent to France. Kanawha cleared New York 17 June 1917 and crossed the Atlantic, arriving St. Nazaire 2 July. She returned to New York 10 August for repairs before sailing again 23 September. The oiler cruised in Atlantic waters until 1 November supplying fuel oil to the cruiser force and escorting convoys to Europe. Kanawha returned to Philadelphia for repairs, then joined the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS) on 8 January 1918. For the rest of the war, the oiler, ignoring torpedo warnings, carried fuel oil from Halifax to United Kingdom and French ports. On 6 November 1918, the patrol vessel USS Jolly Roger suffered irreparable damage while being loaded aboard Kanwaha.
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