USNS Mission Solano (T-AO-135)

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A view of SS Mission Solano's launching at Marine Ship Corporation, Sausalito, California on 14 January 1944.

Career USN Jack
Laid down: 8 October 1943
Launched: 14 January 1944
Delivered: 30 March 1944
Fate: Scrapped
Struck: 15 August 1957
General characteristics
Displacement: 5,532 tons (light),
21,880 tons (full)
Length: 524 ft 0 in (160 m)
Beam: 68 ft 0 in (21 m)
Draft: 30 ft 0 in (9 m)
Speed: 16.5 knots (31 km/h)
Complement: 52 mariners
Propulsion: Turbo-electric, single screw
Armament: None

The USNS Mission Solano (AO-135) was the twenty-fifth of twenty-seven Mission Buenaventura Class fleet oilers built during World War II for service in the United States Navy. Named for the Mission San Francisco Solano, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally laid down as SS Mission Solano on 8 October 1943 as a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A2) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1277) by Marine Ship Corporation, Sausalito, California; launched 14 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. William B. Hawke and delivered 30 March 1944. Chartered to Deconhill Shipping Company for operations, she spent the remainder of the War carrying fuel to our forces in the western Pacific. She remained in this capacity until 29 April 1946 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington. Acquired by the Navy 20 October 1947 she was chartered to the Pacific Atlantic Steamship Company for operations and placed under the operational control of the Naval Transportation Service as Mission Solano (AO-135). When the newly created Military Sea Transportation Service took over operational control 1 October 1949 she was redesignated USNS Mission Solano (T-AO-135). She served with MSTS until 15 August 1957 when she was returned to the Maritime Administration and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date.

Sold to Sea-Land Service, Inc. on 26 May 1967 she was converted into a container ship. She was renamed SS Jacksonville on 27 December 1967. Resold to Madison Transportation Company on 19 June 1968, into 1969 she was still in the merchant service as a container ship. During her active military service she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactively). She also received a Battle Star for her Korean War service.

The ship was ultimately scrapped (date unknown).

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This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

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