Best Friends
My best friend was Chuck Shaw. We remained in contact through the years untill his passing several years back.
Other Memories
The ship I was aboard, the USS Kennebec AO-36, was the third oldest ship in the Navy at the time I was aboard. She was originally launched in April of 1941 as a maritime vessel the SS Corsicana but was acquired by the Navy and commissioned the USS Kennebec AO-36 in Feb. 1942. The following excerpt from a letter our Captain wrote and sent back home in 1966.
U.S.S. KENNEBEC (AO-36)
c/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco 96601
A036/TAC:ao
1 June 1966
Dear Families & Friends of the KENNEBEC,
Since my last letter in February KENNEBEC has continued to
perform her primary mission of supporting the U. S. 7th Fleet in
the South China Sea. Your men have worked long hard hours, in
the heat of the day and at times through most of the night.
Their efforts have been consistently superb. Through their hard
work and desire to do their very best, KENNEBEC has gained an
enviable reputation for being able to do the job and do it well.
Statistics for the most part are boring but to give you an
idea of what we have accomplished since we arrived in WestPac,
KENNEBEC has replenished 332 ships, pumped more than 46,282,572
gallons of oil, transferred 1800 tons of fleet freight, 260
personnel, in accomplishing these tasks KENNEBEC has steamed
60,682 miles in support of operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to
Bay of Siam. Quite an accomplishment for this elderly lady.
While working off the coast of Vietnam we out pumped some of the newest super tankers the Navy had at the time. Each time we would head back on line we would carry over 10,000 rounds of 5"-38 munitions on our cargo deck to transfer to the destroyers we would rearm while at the same time refueling. We refueled everything from MSO’s and gun boats to the USS Enterprise, the only nuke aircraft carrier the Navy had at the time and if you are wondering what fuel we would be giving a nuke carrier it was JP-5 jet fuel. We refueled British ships, Australian ships, and even a Taiwan naval vessel that bounced off our Port side when it attempted to come along side to refuel. They rarely refueled underway and were very inexperienced and believe me it showed. Thankfully they were not alongside for very long. There were times when the sea was really rough and I remember one instance when a tin can (destroyer)) was alongside and the sea was so rough they had a crew member get washed overboard. We immediately executed an emergency break away. I remember running to the fantail of our ship and throwing a life ring in the guy’s direction as he bobbed up and down like a cork in the rough sea. We later heard he had stayed in the water 8 hours because the sea was so rough they could not launch life boats to attempt a rescue. If I remember correctly he was finally rescued by a helicopter launched from an aircraft carrier. This was during a time when there was still the USSR. On numerous occasions when ships would come alongside and set up a course to refuel the USSR fishing trawlers would set up and block our course and cause us to have to break away during refueling operations while off the coast of Vietnam. Anything to hinder our efforts.
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski
Contributed by Al Grazevich
USS Kennebec (AO-36)
International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Kilo - Whiskey NBKW
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Lilac (N)ovember - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4-Vietnam, 5-Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kennebec Class Fleet Oiler
Laid down as SS Corsicana, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SO) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 142), at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
Launched, 19 April 1941
Acquired by the Navy, 13 January 1942
Commissioned USS Kennebec (AO-36), 4 February 1942, CDR. Stuart S. Reynolds in command
During World War II USS Kennebec was assigned to both the Europe-Africa-Middle East and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the following campaign:
Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater
Campaign and Dates
North African Occupation
Algeria-Morocco landings, 8 to 11 November 1942
Following World War II USS Kennebec was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:
Navy Occupation Service Medal
China Service Medal (extended)
7 September 1945 to 23 March 1946
7 September 1945 to 23 March 1946
3 to 25 May 1946
26 May to 9 July 1946
1 February to 5 March 1947
6 to 7 March 1947
16 April to 5 May 1947
12 to 28 June 1947
Decommissioned, 4 September 1950, at San Diego, CA.
Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
Recommissioned, 11 January 1951, at Oakland, CA., CDR. A. G. Beckman in command
Decommissioned, 25 September 1954, at San Diego, CA.
Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
Recommissioned, 14 December 1956, CDR. Naden F. Stimac in command
Decommissioned, 31 October 1957
Struck from the Naval Register, 14 January 1959
Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
Reacquired by the Navy and recommissioned, 16 December 1961
During the Vietnam War USS Kennebec participated in the following campaigns:
Vietnam War Campaigns
Campaign and Dates
Campaign and Dates
Vietnam Defense
25 to 29 September 1965
7 to 10 and 20 to 26 October1965
30 October to 11 November 1965
23 to 27 November 1965
8 to 15 December 1965
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
7 to 15 April 1968
26 April to 5 May 1968
11 to 20 and 25 to 28 May 1968
3 to 10, 15 to 22 and 30 June 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive
31 December 1965
15 to 17 January 1966
2 to 7 and 19 to 25 February 1966
5 to 10 and 22 to 30 March 1966
7 to 11 and 22 to 25 April 1966
30 April to 2 May 1966
6 to 12 and 28 to 29 May 1966
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
1 to 07 July 1968
12 to 20 September 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
5 to 9 and 18 to 28 February 1967
11 to 19 March 1967
25 March to 3 April 1967
9 to 18 April 1967
5 to 15 May 1967
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
11 to 18 June 1969
24 June to 1 July 1969
11 to 20 July 1969
7 to 16 and 21 to 27 August 1969
3 to 8 and 22 to 28 September 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
24 June to 4 July 1967
9 to 16 and 22 to 29 July 1967
3 to 16 August 1967
Decommissioned, 29 June 1970, at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Mare Island, Vallejo, CA.
Struck from the Naval Register, 15 July 1976
Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
Final Disposition, sold by MARAD for non-transportation use, 6 April 1982, to Levin Metals Corporation for $180,077.00 and subsequently scrapped.
USS Kennebec earned one battle star for World War II service and seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service
Specifications: Displacement 6,013 t.(lt) 22,380 t.(fl) Length 501' 5" Beam 68' Draft 30' 2" Speed 16.7 kts. (trial) Complement
Officers - 20
Enlisted - 194 Largest Boom Capacity 7.5 t. Armament
one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
four twin 20mm AA gun mounts Cargo Capacity
Oil - 109,600 Bbls
Gasoline - 689,000 Gals Fuel Capacity NSFO - 4,550 Bbls Propulsion
one Westinghouse geared turbine
two Foster and Wheeler P-type boilers 420psi 720°
double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gear
Ship's Service Generators
one turbo-drive 50Kw 240V D.C.
two turbo-drive 300Kw 240V A.C.
single propeller, 12,000shp
Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size
Image Description
Source
43k
Artist C.G. Evers painting of USS Kennebec (AO-36) underway during World War II
US Navy photo.
Pieter Bakels
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USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo.
Robert Hurst
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USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way 4 October 1942. Except for more powerful propulsion machinery, the six ships of the Kennebec (AO-36) class were built to the same successful design as SS Mobilube, later YO-164. US Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo No. 80-G-14108 courtesy Shipscribe.com.
Robert Hurst
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USS Kennebec (AO-36) departs Norfolk Navy Yard, 24 July 1944. Note the radar antenna on the mast and the raised gun platforms on the aft deck house with their new 40 mm guns. These changes became commonplace for all oilers in the last two years of the war.
US National Archives photo from "Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy 1912-1992", by Thomas Wildenburg
Robert Hurst
180k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, circa 1951, location unknown.
US Navy photo.
Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
70k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) at anchor, date and location unknown.
Harvey Golden
90k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) and USS Mattaponi (AO-41) moored pierside while being prepared for recommissioning at San Diego in 1956.
US Navy photo.
Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
108k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, circa 1960s, location unknown.
US Navy photo courtesy Shipscribe.com
Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
115k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, 16 September 1963, location unknown. US Navy photo # 1086796
Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
128k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, circa 1963, location unknown.
US Navy photo
Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
46k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) refueling USS Sanctuary (AH-17) off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1966-1968.
Photo by LCDR George E. Pillow Jr., USN CO USS Kretchmer (DER-329)
130k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) moored in the background at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines Islands in 1967 as the eight-inch gun tubes for USS Canberra (CAG-2) are being replaced by shipyard personnel. US Navy photo USN 1142872
Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
312k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) alongside USS Hancock (CVA-19) off the coast of Japan in March 1967.
Photo by Charles "Bud" Dehnert USS Hancock
95k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way two days out of Yokosuka, Japan, 22 April 1969
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo
Courtesy Dick Hawkins
USS Kennebec (AO 36) web site
71k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo
Chet Morris
109k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way, date and location unknown.
Photo from USS Kennebec Association web site
Richard Miler BMCS USNR (Ret)
71k
USS Kennebec (AO-36) under way off Vietnam in 1967.
Richard Miler BMCS USNR (Ret)
Pacific Stars and Stripes article "Navy Ship Thrives on Crisis", 21 May 1968 issue.
Richard Miler BMCS USNR (Ret)
127k
Ex-USS Kennebec (AO-36) laid up in reserve at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. in November 1981.
Photo from "Merchant Ships of World War II: A Post War Album 1" by Victor Young.
Robert Hurst
USS Kennebec Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Mike Smolinski
Contributed by Richard Miller
For more photos and information about USS Kennebec, see:
Criteria
The Navy "E" Ribbon denotes permanent duty on ships or in squadrons that won the battle efficiency competition after July 1, 1974.
Description On 1 July 1968 the USS Kennebec was awarded the Battle Efficiency E Award for the fiscal year 1968. The achievement of this award required considerable teamwork plus outstanding individual performance... On 1 July 1968 the USS Kennebec was awarded the Battle Efficiency E Award for the fiscal year 1968. The achievement of this award required considerable teamwork plus outstanding individual performance. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Description This Campaign period was from 2 April to 30 June 1968. The Naval air and gun fire support to operations such as Operation Silver Mace gave ground units the needed firepower while AirForce units were mThis Campaign period was from 2 April to 30 June 1968. The Naval air and gun fire support to operations such as Operation Silver Mace gave ground units the needed firepower while AirForce units were moved to air operations over Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam. From 7 to 18 April, ground, air, and naval units from each of the American services, the Vietnamese Navy, and the Vietnamese Marine Corps conducted Silver Mace II, a strike operation in the Nam Can Forest on Ca Mau Peninsula. The enemy avoided heavy contact with the allied force, but his logistical system was disrupted.
Enemy air defenses caused aviators more concern for by 1968 the Communists had developed a defensive system that was well-armed, coordinated, and supported. On the ground throughout North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and Laos, the enemy trained skyward thousands of small arms, automatic weapons, and antiaircraft artillery. North Vietnam alone contained 8,000 weapons of many calibers, concentrated around key targets. Beginning in early 1965, surface-to-air missiles (SAM) were added to this defensive arsenal, and by early 1968 over 300 SAM sites dotted the North Vietnamese countryside. The entire defensive system was tied together with a sophisticated network of communications, air alert stations, and early warning, ground control-interceptor, and fire control radars. New and replacement weapons and ammunition were amply supplied by sympathetic Communist countries. The loss in Southeast Asia of 421 fixed-wing aircraft from 1965 to 1968 attested to the strength of these defenses. The aviators killed, missing, or made prisoner totaled 450. The operating environment was especially dangerous in North Vietnam, where 382 Navy planes were shot down, 58 of them by SAMs.
Although only accounting for eight of the Navy's aircraft during this three-year period, the North Vietnamese air units posed a constant threat to U.S. operations, thus requiring a diversion of vital resources for protection. The enemy air force varied from 25 to 100 MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, and MiG-21 jet fighters. The country's jet-capable airfields included Gia Lam, Phuc Yen, Cat Bi, Kep, Kien An, Yen Bai, Son Tay, Bai Thuong, Hoa Lac, and Vinh. The U.S. Navy engaged in its first air-to-air encounter of the war on 3 April 1965, when several MiG-15s unsuccessfully attacked a flight of F-8 Crusaders near Thanh Hoa. On 17 June, two Midway F-4 Phantoms registered the first kills in the long conflict when they downed two MiG-17s south of Hanoi. ... More
Memories USS Kennebec AO-36
07-15 April 1968 26 April to 05 May 1968 11-20 & 25-28 May 1968 03-10, 15-22, & 30 June 1968USS Kennebec AO-36
07-15 April 1968 26 April to 05 May 1968 11-20 & 25-28 May 1968 03-10, 15-22, & 30 June 1968... More
Description This campaign was from 1 July to 1 November 1968. During this period a country-wide effort was begun to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attThis campaign was from 1 July to 1 November 1968. During this period a country-wide effort was begun to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attempted another such offensive on 17-18 August but his efforts were comparatively feeble and were quickly overwhelmed by Allied forces.
In the fall of 1968 the South Vietnamese government, with major U.S. support, launched an accelerated pacification campaign. All friendly forces were coordinated and brought to bear on the enemy in every tactical area of operation. In these intensified operations, friendly units first secured a target area, then Vietnamese government units, regional forces/popular forces, police and civil authorities screened the inhabitants, seeking members of the Viet Cong infrastructure. This technique was so successful against the political apparatus that it became the basis for subsequent friendly operations. Government influence expanded into areas of the countryside previously dominated by the Viet Cong to such an extent that two years later at least some measure of government control was evident in all but a few remote regions.... More
Description This Campaign period was from 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968. By mid-1967, the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service operated a fleet of 527 reactivated World War II Reserve Fleet ships and chartThis Campaign period was from 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968. By mid-1967, the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service operated a fleet of 527 reactivated World War II Reserve Fleet ships and chartered vessels under U.S. and foreign registry. Throughout this period, MSTS shipping carried over 40,000 U.S. and allied combat and support troops to South Vietnam. The allied requirements for transportation were passed from MSTS representatives in the ports of Danang, Chu Lai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau, Phan Rang, and Vung Ro through the MSTS office in Saigon to the MSTS Far East, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and finally to Commander MSTS in the United States. Many types of vessels sailed in the MSTS fleet, including converted escort carriers Core, Card, Point Cruz (T-AKV 19), and Kula Gulf (T-AKV 8), which served as aircraft ferries. Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH 1), formerly seaplane tender Albermarle (AV 5), operated as a helicopter repair ship for the Army. In addition to the great number of standard cargo hulls, the service operated ships that carried cargo stowed in easily handled containers and new roll-on/roll-off ships that could quickly load and unload vehicles through rear or side ports. Arriving at Danang on 1 August 1967, Bienville was the first such container vessel to reach South Vietnam. Fuel tankers included the 190,000-barrel capacity Maumee (T-AO 149), the 140,000-barrel Cache (T-AO 67), and the 30,000-barrel Chattahoochee (T-AOG 82), the latter of which was used for storage and shuttle services in-country.
MSTS also controlled as many as 16 troop transports in the Pacific during the buildup of forces in South Vietnam. A fleet of LSTs, the number of which increased from 17 to 42 by mid-1968, handled cargo shuttling along the coast. In-port lighterage and terminal duties were accomplished by the MSTS-contracted Alaska Barge and Transport Company, which operated 19 tugs and 33 barges. The total MSTS effort ensured that the 550,000-man U.S. contingent in South Vietnam was well supplied, armed, and prepared to stay in the battle against the determined enemy.
Naval Support Activity, Saigon, which the Navy activated on 17 May 1966, two days after HSAS ceased operations, was charged with providing logistic support to naval units in the II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. The newly created NAVFORV directed the operations of NSA Saigon. The support activity supplied the Navy's Coastal Surveillance Force, River Patrol Force, Riverine Assault Force, and the various specialized headquarters, offices, and detachments operating in the three southern corps areas. NSA Saigon provided the commands with ammunition, weapons, and communications equipment; transported cargo and personnel; repaired and maintained ships and craft; stocked spare parts; and built bases and facilities. Finally, NSA saw to the quartering, messing, payroll, and recreational needs of the naval officers and enlisted personnel in Vietnam.
The Saigon activity developed subordinate support bases for the combat forces similar to those of NSA Danang's. NSA Saigon detachments at Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh Bay, An Thoi, Cat Lo, and Vung Tau primarily served the Market Time operation, although the last two bases were home to other naval combat units as well. The concentration of the Task Force 115 headquarters, naval air units, and other large contingents at Cam Ranh Bay required greater command authority and logistic resources. As a result, in September 1967, NSA Saigon upgraded the detachment to the Naval Support Facility, Cam Ranh Bay. Detachments were also established at Can Tho (and later moved to nearby Binh Thuy), Nha Be, Vinh Long, Sa Dec, My Tho, Tan Chau, and Long Xuyen. These units saw to the special needs of the Task Force 116 PBR commands. The Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Detachment Dong Tam, supplied only the Mobile Riverine Force naval units. ... More
Memories
USS Kennebec AO-36
24 June - 04 July 1967 09-16 & 22-29 July 1967 03-16 August 1967
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Description
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Description
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Description
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
Description This Campaign period was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. The growing Coastal Force devoted most of its attention to amphibious raids, patrols of shallow inlets and river mouths, troop lifts, and blocThis Campaign period was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. The growing Coastal Force devoted most of its attention to amphibious raids, patrols of shallow inlets and river mouths, troop lifts, and blocking support for allied ground sweeps. For instance, during Operation Irving in October 1966, ground forces and junk units in II Coastal Zone killed 681 Viet Cong troops. In addition, the junkmen established a government presence among the fishermen and provided them with medical services and other assistance. Sometimes the Coastal Force sailors convinced Communist soldiers to desert their units.
The enemy, who often attacked the 27 vulnerable Coastal Force bases, overran the triangular-shaped fortifications of Coastal Group 15 at Cua An Hoa in July 1965 and of Coastal Group 16 at Co Luy in August 1967. Other bases, however, withstood repeated assaults. In doing so, these facilities played a part in the allied effort that denied the enemy easy access to the coastal regions.
Viet Cong mines also took their toll of the command's MLMS fleet, which worked to keep open the shipping channel to Saigon. In August 1966 and again in January 1967, enemy mines sank an MLMS in the Rung Sat. The River Force did not fully employ its strength. The political troubles of 1965 and 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam, in which high-ranking River Force officers figured prominently, damaged morale and distracted personnel from their military mission.
The navy and the army rarely launched joint amphibious assaults against the Viet Cong. Operations reflected the River Force's lack of technically skilled crewmen, the poor maintenance and repair of river craft, and the absence of inspired leadership. Usually, only half of the command's units were ready for combat action, and many of these boats were committed by the army to static guard, resupply, troop lift, or other nonoffensive duties.
The reliance on defense over offense reflected the historic Vietnamese strategy of husbanding resources until there was clear advantage over an enemy. The Vietnamese Navy's River Force sailors often fought hard and bravely, killing many of the enemy and suffering heavy losses of their own, but their valor and sacrifice was not rewarded with strategic success. ... More
Memories USS Kennebec AO-36
05-09 & 18-28 February 1967 11-19 March 1967 25 March - 03 April 1967 09-18 April 1967 05-15 May 1967
U.S.S. KENNEBEC (AO-36) c/o Fleet Post Office San Francisco 96601 A036/TAC:ao 1 June 1966
Dear Families & Friends of the KENNEBEC,
Since my last letter in February KENNEBEC has continued to perform her primary mission of supporting the U. S. 7th Fleet in the South China Sea. Your men have worked long hard hours, in the heat of the day and at times through most of the night. Their efforts have been consistently superb. Through their hard work and desire to do their very best, KENNEBEC has gained an enviable reputation for being able to do the job and do it well.
Statistics for the most part are boring but to give you an idea of what we have accomplished since we arrived in WestPac, KENNEBEC has replenished 332 ships, pumped more than 46,282,572 gallons of oil, transferred 1800 tons of fleet freight, 260 personnel, in accomplishing these tasks KENNEBEC has steamed 60,682 miles in support of operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to Bay of Siam. Quite an accomplishment for this elderly lady. USS Kennebec AO-36
05-09 & 18-28 February 1967 11-19 March 1967 25 March - 03 April 1967 09-18 April 1967 05-15 May 1967
U.S.S. KENNEBEC (AO-36) c/o Fleet Post Office San Francisco 96601 A036/TAC:ao 1 June 1966
Dear Families & Friends of the KENNEBEC,
Since my last letter in February KENNEBEC has continued to perform her primary mission of supporting the U. S. 7th Fleet in the South China Sea. Your men have worked long hard hours, in the heat of the day and at times through most of the night. Their efforts have been consistently superb. Through their hard work and desire to do their very best, KENNEBEC has gained an enviable reputation for being able to do the job and do it well.
Statistics for the most part are boring but to give you an idea of what we have accomplished since we arrived in WestPac, KENNEBEC has replenished 332 ships, pumped more than 46,282,572 gallons of oil, transferred 1800 tons of fleet freight, 260 personnel, in accomplishing these tasks KENNEBEC has steamed 60,682 miles in support of operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to Bay of Siam. Quite an accomplishment for this elderly lady.... More
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical l... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces; or 3. Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a. Wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b. Captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; or c. Killed in action or in the line of duty; or 4. Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. MoreHide
Criteria
The Navy "E" Ribbon denotes permanent duty on ships or in squadrons that won the battle efficiency competition after July 1, 1974.
Description
On 3 August 1965 the USS Kennebec was awarded the Battle Efficiency E for fiscal year 1965 for demonstrating above all others her ability to get the job well done.
Description This campaign was 8 March to 24 December 1965. As communist efforts in South Vietnam increased, US carriers continued bombing North Vietnam while US Marines landed from seventh Fleet ships at danang, This campaign was 8 March to 24 December 1965. As communist efforts in South Vietnam increased, US carriers continued bombing North Vietnam while US Marines landed from seventh Fleet ships at danang, marking the beginning of major combat in involvement in Vietnam.
In April 1965 the Joint General Staff (JGS) decided to enhance their control of the Vietnamese Marine Corps by making it a separate service within the armed forces. In addition, the JGS redesignated the I, II, III and IV Naval Zones as Coastal Zones and, along with the newly created III and IV Riverine Areas, placed them under the operational control of the army commanders of the I, II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. Because of its special riverine characteristics, the Rung Sat remained in the navy's charge. Thus, with the exception of ships steaming outside of territorial waters, most of the navy's combat forces came under army direction.
Administrative responsibility for the navy, however, remained with the Chief of Naval Operations. Another significant reorganization occurred in July 1965 when the JGS formally integrated the 3,500-man, paramilitary Coastal Force into the navy. Thereafter, the command's divisions and the old coastal district designations were dropped and the coastal zones became the operational sectors. In a similar move, in October the following year, the Vietnamese Navy was assigned administrative responsibility for the headquarters and training center of the 24 paramilitary Regional Force Boat Companies and maintenance responsibility for their 192 vehicle and personnel landing craft (LCVP).
The Navy established the coastal surveillance force (dubbed operation Market Time), using its own swift boats and Coast Guard WPBs to stop communist infiltration from the sea. On 18 December, the U.S. Navy began patrolling the rivers of South Vietnam in an operation named game warden. ... More
Memories USS Kennebec AO-36
25-29 September 1965 07-10 October 1965 20-26 October 1965 30 Oct. - 11 Nov. 1965 23-2USS Kennebec AO-36
25-29 September 1965 07-10 October 1965 20-26 October 1965 30 Oct. - 11 Nov. 1965 23-27 November 1965 08-15 December 1965... More
Description This campaign was from 25 December 1965 to 30 June 1966. As the war continued, the Navy continued to patrol the coasts and rivers in brown water operations. Minesweeping craft begin patrolling the LonThis campaign was from 25 December 1965 to 30 June 1966. As the war continued, the Navy continued to patrol the coasts and rivers in brown water operations. Minesweeping craft begin patrolling the Long Tau River leading to Saigon to keep that vital waterway open to merging traffic.
Navy patrol craft worked to keep Vietnamese's harbors open and safe in operation stable door. Navy helicopters called Seawolves began supporting the newly arrived Navy PBR in Game Warden missions.
On 1 January 1966, the Sea Force was renamed the Fleet Command and reorganized along functional lines. Flotilla I, comprised the submarine chasers (PC) and escorts in Squadron 11, the motor gunboats in Squadron 13, and the large support landing ships (LSSL) in Squadron 15. The minesweepers in Squadron 17 were responsible for sea patrol, inshore patrol, river patrol, and minesweeping duties, respectively. Flotilla II controlled Squadrons 22 and 24, which consisted of the Vietnamese Navy's landing ships and craft, coastal oilers, and other vessels providing logistic support.
Throughout this period, the Vietnamese Navy continued to suffer from serious deficiencies. Perhaps the greatest was the careerism and interservice political activity of many naval officers, which hamstrung coordination and cooperation in operations and lowered the morale and motivation of naval personnel. The emphasis on politics disrupted the training of sailors, many already educationally unprepared in the technical skills essential for the operation of complex vessels, weapons, and equipment.
Aside from the political factor, training in gunnery, seamanship, and communications skills was hurt by the Vietnamese stress on instruction at shore-based schools, rather than on board ships. Unfortunately, few Vietnamese sailors were released from operational duty to receive training ashore.
At the same time, the Recruit Training Center at Cam Ranh Bay, the Advanced Training Center in Saigon, and the Naval Training Center at Nha Trang, which included the Naval Academy, were hard-pressed to handle the great number of men entering the service during this period. Some relief was afforded by the training of Vietnamese officers and men on board U.S. naval vessels and in the United States. The quality of training improved somewhat as a result of these measures and the hard work of many Vietnamese sailors and American advisors.
The material condition of the navy raised even more serious concerns. Officers and men in the operational units often showed little regard for the maintenance of their ships and craft. Compounding the problem was the inability of the ship and boat repair facilities to cope with the growing backlog of work orders generated by the increased tempo of the war and the doubling in size of the navy.
The lack of skilled workmen severely hampered operations at the Eastern Repair Facility at Cuu Long near Saigon and the Western Repair Facility at Can Tho, which handled River Force and Coastal Force work. The same condition existed at the smaller establishments at Danang, Cat Lo, Qui Nhon, An Thoi, and Rach Gia, which supported the Coastal Force exclusively. A number of these repair operations barely functioned.
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Memories USS Kennebec AO-36
31 December 1965 15-17 January 1966 02-07 & 19-25 February 1966 05-10 & 22-30 March 1966 07-11 & 22-25 April 1966 30 April - 02 May 1966 06-12 & 28-29 May 1966USS Kennebec AO-36
31 December 1965 15-17 January 1966 02-07 & 19-25 February 1966 05-10 & 22-30 March 1966 07-11 & 22-25 April 1966 30 April - 02 May 1966 06-12 & 28-29 May 1966... More
My best friend was Chuck Shaw. We remained in contact through the years untill his passing several years back.
The ship I was aboard, the USS Kennebec AO-36, was the third oldest ship in the Navy at the time I was aboard. She was originally launched in April of 1941 as a maritime vessel the SS Corsicana but was acquired by the Navy and commissioned the USS Kennebec AO-36 in Feb. 1942. The following excerpt from a letter our Captain wrote and sent back home in 1966.
U.S.S. KENNEBEC (AO-36)
c/o Fleet Post Office
San Francisco 96601
A036/TAC:ao
1 June 1966
Dear Families & Friends of the KENNEBEC,
Since my last letter in February KENNEBEC has continued to
perform her primary mission of supporting the U. S. 7th Fleet in
the South China Sea. Your men have worked long hard hours, in
the heat of the day and at times through most of the night.
Their efforts have been consistently superb. Through their hard
work and desire to do their very best, KENNEBEC has gained an
enviable reputation for being able to do the job and do it well.
Statistics for the most part are boring but to give you an
idea of what we have accomplished since we arrived in WestPac,
KENNEBEC has replenished 332 ships, pumped more than 46,282,572
gallons of oil, transferred 1800 tons of fleet freight, 260
personnel, in accomplishing these tasks KENNEBEC has steamed
60,682 miles in support of operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to
Bay of Siam. Quite an accomplishment for this elderly lady.
While working off the coast of Vietnam we out pumped some of the newest super tankers the Navy had at the time. Each time we would head back on line we would carry over 10,000 rounds of 5"-38 munitions on our cargo deck to transfer to the destroyers we would rearm while at the same time refueling. We refueled everything from MSO’s and gun boats to the USS Enterprise, the only nuke aircraft carrier the Navy had at the time and if you are wondering what fuel we would be giving a nuke carrier it was JP-5 jet fuel. We refueled British ships, Australian ships, and even a Taiwan naval vessel that bounced off our Port side when it attempted to come along side to refuel. They rarely refueled underway and were very inexperienced and believe me it showed. Thankfully they were not alongside for very long. There were times when the sea was really rough and I remember one instance when a tin can (destroyer)) was alongside and the sea was so rough they had a crew member get washed overboard. We immediately executed an emergency break away. I remember running to the fantail of our ship and throwing a life ring in the guy’s direction as he bobbed up and down like a cork in the rough sea. We later heard he had stayed in the water 8 hours because the sea was so rough they could not launch life boats to attempt a rescue. If I remember correctly he was finally rescued by a helicopter launched from an aircraft carrier. This was during a time when there was still the USSR. On numerous occasions when ships would come alongside and set up a course to refuel the USSR fishing trawlers would set up and block our course and cause us to have to break away during refueling operations while off the coast of Vietnam. Anything to hinder our efforts.
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski
Contributed by Al Grazevich
USS Kennebec (AO-36)
International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Kilo - Whiskey
NBKW
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Lilac (N)ovember - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4-Vietnam, 5-Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kennebec Class Fleet Oiler
Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater
Algeria-Morocco landings, 8 to 11 November 1942
Navy Occupation Service Medal
China Service Medal (extended)
Vietnam War Campaigns
25 to 29 September 1965
7 to 10 and 20 to 26 October1965
30 October to 11 November 1965
23 to 27 November 1965
8 to 15 December 1965
7 to 15 April 1968
26 April to 5 May 1968
11 to 20 and 25 to 28 May 1968
3 to 10, 15 to 22 and 30 June 1968
31 December 1965
15 to 17 January 1966
2 to 7 and 19 to 25 February 1966
5 to 10 and 22 to 30 March 1966
7 to 11 and 22 to 25 April 1966
30 April to 2 May 1966
6 to 12 and 28 to 29 May 1966
1 to 07 July 1968
12 to 20 September 1968
5 to 9 and 18 to 28 February 1967
11 to 19 March 1967
25 March to 3 April 1967
9 to 18 April 1967
5 to 15 May 1967
11 to 18 June 1969
24 June to 1 July 1969
11 to 20 July 1969
7 to 16 and 21 to 27 August 1969
3 to 8 and 22 to 28 September 1969
24 June to 4 July 1967
9 to 16 and 22 to 29 July 1967
3 to 16 August 1967
Specifications:
Displacement 6,013 t.(lt) 22,380 t.(fl)
Length 501' 5"
Beam 68'
Draft 30' 2"
Speed 16.7 kts. (trial)
Complement
Officers - 20
Enlisted - 194
Largest Boom Capacity 7.5 t.
Armament
one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
Cargo Capacity
Oil - 109,600 Bbls
Gasoline - 689,000 Gals
Fuel Capacity NSFO - 4,550 Bbls
Propulsion
one Westinghouse geared turbine
two Foster and Wheeler P-type boilers 420psi 720°
double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gear
Ship's Service Generators
one turbo-drive 50Kw 240V D.C.
two turbo-drive 300Kw 240V A.C.
single propeller, 12,000shp
For Full Size Image
US Navy photo.
US Navy photo.
US Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo No. 80-G-14108 courtesy Shipscribe.com.
US National Archives photo from "Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy 1912-1992", by Thomas Wildenburg
US Navy photo.
US Navy photo.
US Navy photo courtesy Shipscribe.com
US Navy photo # 1086796
US Navy photo
US Navy photo USN 1142872
US Navy photo
USS Kennebec (AO 36) web site
US Navy photo
Photo from USS Kennebec Association web site
Photo from "Merchant Ships of World War II: A Post War Album 1" by Victor Young.
Contributed by Mike Smolinski
Contributed by Richard Miller
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Fleet Tankers Association
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log