USS Marias
Oiler of the United States Navy.
History
USS Marias (AO-57) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For performing this dangerous task, she was awarded eight battle stars during World War II, and one campaign star during the Vietnam War for her bravery in combat areas.
Marias, built under Maritime Commission contract by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, Maryland, was launched 21 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Henry Williams; and acquired and commissioned 12 February 1944.
Text from Wikipedia: USS Marias, CC BY-SA 4.0, lightly trimmed.
Wars and campaigns
From Wikidata (CC0).
Key dates
- 1945On 24 February 1945, five days after the landings at Iwo Jima, the tanker returned to Ulithi to prepare for the Okinawa campaign.
- 1945Following the signing of the surrender terms, Marias entered Tokyo Bay, remaining there, with the exception of a voyage to Ulithi for fuel, until departing for the United States 27 October 1945.
- 1946Marias arrived San Pedro, California, 10 November, underwent yard overhaul and departed again for the western Pacific 5 February 1946.
- 1950For the next four years, with one interruption - a cruise to Bahrein, 27 July to 9 October 1950 - the ship delivered fuel from the U.S. West Coast to Pearl Harbor and Alaskan ports.
- 1952On 19 November 1952, Marias departed San Francisco, California, for her first deployment with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.
- 1973She was decommissioned from the Navy and placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Marias (T-AO-57) in 1973.
- 1982Marias was transferred on 22 November 1982 to the James River Reserve Fleet.
Dates and events quoted from the same Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Records that place someone aboard this ship
A ship history doesn't name everyone who served. These records do:
- Navy muster rolls, 1939–1949 (National Archives guide)
- Deck logs: how to get them (Naval History and Heritage Command)
- Crew lists research guide (NHHC)
- Search the National Archives Catalog for “USS Marias”