Allied Warships

USS Chiwawa (AO 68)

Oiler of the Chiwawa class

NavyThe US Navy
TypeOiler
ClassChiwawa 
PennantAO 68 
Built byBethlehem Steel Corp. (Sparrows Point, Maryland, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched25 Jun 1942 
Commissioned24 Dec 1942 
End service6 May 1946 
History

Decommissioned on 6 May 1946
Sold into merchantile service in 1961
As of 2005 this ship is still sailing under the name Lee A. Tregurtha for the Lakes Shipping Company (Interlake Steamship Company).
She was lengthend to 826 feet in 1961 and 1976 and widened 7 feet to 75 feet in 1961.

She is now a bulk frieghter and huals coal and iron ore around the great lakes, she is often seen in Detroit, Michigan.
She wears paintings of the service ribbons won in WWII on her pilot house.

 

Commands listed for USS Chiwawa (AO 68)

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CommanderFromTo
1Harold Farnham Fultz, USN24 Dec 19428 Jul 1943
2John Perry Goza, USNR11 Jul 194316 Jun 1945
3Albert Frederick Block, USNR16 Jun 19456 May 1946

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Notable events involving Chiwawa include:


2007
In 2007 her steam turbines were removed and new diesel engines were installed. (1)

Sources

  1. Personal communication

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