USS Abatan (AW-4)

USS Abatan (AW-4). Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 18 February 1945. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO. 

USS Abatan (AW-4) was a Pasig-class distilling ship built for the United States Navy during World War II, named after the Abatan River located in the southwestern part of Bohol Island in the Philippines.

Originally laid down as SS Mission San Lorenzo under a United States Maritime Commission contract on 9 June 1944 at Sausalito, California by the Marinship Corporation, she was renamed USS Abatan on 25 July 1944 in anticipation of her acquisition by the Navy and simultaneously designated AO-92 for naval service as an oiler, launched on 6 August 1944, sponsored by Mrs. John A. McCone, transferred to the Navy on 28 November 1944 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, converted there for naval service, completed as a distilling ship, redesignated USS Abatan (AW-4) on 24 August 1944 and placed in commission on 29 January 1945.

Service History

World War II, 1945

Late in February, the new distilling ship got underway for shakedown training off the coast of southern California. She left the continental United States on the 28th and shaped a course for the Western Caroline Islands. After pausing en route at Eniwetok, Abatan reached Ulithi on 21 March and remained there for more than six months providing potable water to various types of landing craft, patrol vessels, and escort ships. During this period of her service, Japan capitulated in mid-August.

Post-war Activities, 1945–1946

The ship sailed for Okinawa on 1 October, and stopped en route at Samar, Philippine Islands, to take on fresh water before continuing on to the Ryukyus. She reached her destination on 11 October and began issuing water to various fleet units. The ship left Okinawa on 15 November and set a course for Shanghai, China. She touched at that port on the 18th and remained stationed there through April 1946. The vessel left Chinese waters on 2 May and sailed via Okinawa to the Marshall Islands. Abatan reached Eniwetok on 31 May and assumed duties in connection with "Operation Crossroads," a series of tests conducted to determine the effects of atomic explosions upon warships. She was involved in this project until 27 June, when she weighed anchor and got underway for Kwajalein. The distilling ship arrived there the next day and remained in port providing potable water through 17 July. She then commenced a voyage to the east coast of the United States. The vessel visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in late July; transited the Panama Canal; reported to the Atlantic Fleet in mid-August; and then proceeded to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She arrived there on 20 August and entered a pre-inactivation availability phase.

Decommissioned, 1947 –1962

Abatan was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 27 January 1947 and was berthed at Philadelphia. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 July 1960, and the ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration for layup in the James River.

Water Storage Ship, 1962–1979

Abatan was reacquired by the Navy and reinstated on the Navy list on 27 September 1962 for use as a backup fresh water storage ship at the Naval Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. She was again struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1970 but was retained as a hulk for storing water at Guantánamo Bay.

Late in 1979 all desirable equipment was removed from the hull, which was expended as a target on 10 March 1980 approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Guadeloupe at 16 N – 62 W.

Name: USS Abatan

Builder: Marinship Corporation, Sausalito, California

Laid down: 9 June 1944

Launched: 6 August 1944

Commissioned: 29 January 1945

Decommissioned: 27 January 1947

Stricken: 1 July 1960

Reinstated: 27 September 1962

In service: 1962

Out of service: 1979

Stricken: 1 May 1970

Fate: Sunk as a target, 1980

Type: Pasig-class distilling ship

Displacement:      

6,640 long tons (6,747 t) light

23,350 long tons (23,725 t) full

Length: 523 ft 6 in (159.56 m)

Beam: 68 ft (21 m)

Draft: 30 ft 10 in (9.40 m)

Propulsion: Turbo-electric, single propeller

Speed: 15.1 knots (28.0 km/h; 17.4 mph)

Complement: 265 officers and enlisted

Armament:

1 × 5-inch/38-caliber gun

4 × 3-inch/50-caliber guns

4 × twin 40 mm guns

4 × twin 20 mm guns

 

USS Abatan (AW-4). Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 18 February 1945. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO.

USS Abatan (AW-4). Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 18 February 1945. The harbor tug Nepanet (YTB-189) is alongside.

USS Abatan (AW-4). Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 18 February 1945. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 7AO. 

USS Abatan (AW-4). At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 20 February 1945. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship.

USS Abatan (AW-4). View of the ship's after portion, taken the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 20 February 1945. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship.

USS Abatan (AW-4). Plan view looking forward from the midships' superstructure, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 20 February 1945. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship. Note hoses stowed by the centerline catwalk, and booms attached to the foremast.

USS Abatan (AW-4). Plan view looking forward toward the midships' superstructure, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 20 February 1945. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship.

USS Abatan (AW-4). Plan view looking aft from amidships, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 20 February 1945. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship. Note motor launches, winches, cargo booms and other equipment.

    U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Aerial view of the Officer's Club ("Como Club") at Deer Point, Guantanamo Bay, 28 June 1979. The water storage hulk ex-USS Abatan (AW-4) is moored in the bay beyond the club buildings. Photographed by PH1 Leonard L. Sallions. (Official U.S. Navy photograph NH 98920 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center)

View of the U.S. Navy Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California (USA) during the Second World War. The distilling ship USS Abatan (AW-4) is in dry dock No. 3, the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (CA-32) (only her funnels are visible) in dry dock No. 2 to right of Abatan. Floating drydock ARD-32 is on the quay wall with USS Cod (SS-224) docked inside. Taken on 23 January 1945. ( Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo 610-45;  U.S. Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey, U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs HABS CAL,48-MARI,1--127)

USS Abatan (AW-4), at left. Alongside a pier at the U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 2 March 1964, while she was serving as water storage and desalinization ship there. The original caption states "The ship produces about two million gallons of fresh water daily." (Official U.S. Navy photograph NH 98916 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center)

Ex-USS Abatan (AW-4). Moored at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, where she served as water and fuel storage hulk, 12 June 1978. (Official U.S. Navy photograph)