Built as turbine tanker Calusa of the T-2 class for Socony-Vacuum Oil Co Inc, New York. On 5 Jan 1942, acquired by the US Navy and on 27 January commissioned as fleet oiler USS Winooski (AO 38).

On 30 Apr 1946, the fleet oiler was decommissioned and returned as Calusa to the owner. 1947 renamed Samuel L. Fuller and 1963 renamed Seanymph. 1964 renamed Meracoulosa and scrapped at Kaohsiung in September 1965.

Between 19.48 and 19.56 hours on 11 Nov 1942, U-173 fired torpedoes at the anchored ships of convoy UGF-1 in the Fedhala roads and heard three detonations. Schweichel reported only one ship damaged, because no visual observations were made due to A/S activity. In fact, the transporter USS Joseph Hewes (AP 50) was sunk and the oiler USS Winooski (AO 38) and the destroyer USS Hambleton (DD 455) were damaged.

The USS Winooski (AO 38) (Cmdr Walter C. Ansel) was hit by one torpedo abaft the bridge, opening a hole in #6 tank and damaging several other compartments. She developed a list of about 8° that was corrected soon by shifting cargo. The tanker resumed her duties the following day and operated in Casablanca after 15 November. On 23 November, USS Winooski (AO 38) left port for Gibraltar where she was repaired for three months.