Maumee III T-AO-149

Maumee

III

(T-AO-149: dp. 32,950; 1. 614'6" ; b. 83'6"; dr. 32' s.
18 k.; cpl. 52; Maumee; T. T5-S-12A.)

The third Maumee (T-AO-149) was laid down 8 March 1955 by the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pa.; launched 15 November 1955; sponsored by Mrs. Lloyd Harrison; and placed in service, special, 17 December 1956.

Continuing the list of Maumee firsts, the third ship so named was the first of her super tanker class and the first vessel in naval history to be launched as a USNS (United States Naval Ship). Built along commercial tanker lines specifically for MSTS duty, Maumee, following her completion, was turned over to Marine Transport Lines to operate for MSTS under a long-term consecutive-voyage charter. By 1958 she had begun her first prolonged duty in the Pacific Into 1968 she has continued her assigned task of point-to-point delivery of bulk POL (petroleum, oil, lubrication) in support of American Armed Forces in the Pacific area.