USS Taluga (AO-62)
The last WWII T3-S2-A1 Oiler and the first MSC Oiler; is going away!
At anchor, circa 1951, location unknown. by Derick S. Hartshorn, courtesy LTjg. Jerome Bolick USN Ret. NavSource
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Taluga; A river in Florida
(AO-62: dp. 23,235 (tl.); 1. 553'0"; b. 75'0"; dr. 32'4" (lim.); s. 18.0 k.; cpl. 313; a. 1 5", 4 3"; cl. Ashtabula; T. T3-S2-A1)
Taluga (AO-62) was laid down under a Maritime
Commission contract (MC hull 728) on 23 December 1943
at Sparrows Point, Md., by the Bethlehem Steel Co.; launched on
10 July 1944; sponsored by
Mrs. Harvey Klemmer; delivered to the Navy at Norfolk on 25
August 1944; and commissioned on that same day,
Comdr. Hans M. Mikkelsen in command.
View most history at: DANFS , Navsource,
Auke Visser,
MSC,
and Wikipedia
Crew Lists at: Navysite.de,
Hullnumber, vetfriends, koreanwar,
Military.com,and
Navy
Emporium
Underway,
circa 1957 to 1961, location unknown. by Tommy R. Trampp SK3 USS
Taluga NavSource
Taluga in SUISUN BAY
 U.S.
Navy photo by Linda E. McDanie
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MSC's
third mission area can be traced back to 1972 to a series of tests,
code-named the Charger Logs, to see if civilians could provide the
at-sea logistics support that had been provided by uniformed
-Navy-crewed ships. Tests demonstrated that civilian mariners could
perform these support functions successfully and cost-effectively. In
May 1972, fleet oiler USNS Taluga became "The first underway
replenishment ship turned over by the U.S. Navy for civil service
mariner operation", marking the birth of MSC's Naval Fleet
Auxiliary Force. Taluga was followed by other tankers transferred from
the active Navy, and sixteen purpose-built oilers of the Henry J.
Kaiser-class. Other types and classes followed. The Powhatan-class
fleet ocean tugs and Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ships owe their
existence to MSC fleet support ship USNS Mosopelea and her three
sisters. USNS Rigel and USNS Kilauea led to the acquisition and
transfer of three Sirius-class and six Mars-class stores ships and six
subsequent ammunition vessels. The end result is the design of the
Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition ships. From:
"SEALIFT"
The
navy oiler Taluga (AO-62) was the first fleet-support ship to be placed
under MSC control. Decommissioned on 4 May 1972, she was transferred to
the MSC and redesignated T-AO-62. After her transfer, the ship
underwent a thorough overall that included refurbishment of equipment,
gear, and refueling rigs, modification of crew quarters, and the
removal of armaments. She entered service with a crew of 105 civilian
mariners hired by the government augmented by a sixteen-member naval
complement. The latter, being familiar with navy doctrine, procedures,
and encryption equipment, handled all communication functions.
On
her first assignment, USNS Taluga deployed to the Pacific providing
direct support to the Seventh Fleet where she conducted 160 underway
replenishments. Her first master, Capt. Lawrence Nasset, received
numerous awards and letters of commendation for his highly successful
efforts in transforming Taluga from a navy-crewed to a civilian-crewed
vessel. From:
"Gray Steel and Black Oil"
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| Two MSC "Ship Mastert's" I know are Capt.
Pat Moloney and Capt.
Bruce Butterfield ... Both served aboard TALUGA |
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1960's and Later Photos
USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2). US Navy photo NavSource
Droping away from USS Evans after refueling during a WESTPAC deployment in April 1967. Photo by Darryl Baker NavSource
Early 1982 Westpack 1981-82 from USS Fresno (LST-1182) by mffraizer (Flickr)
Refueling USS Vancouver (LPD-2) in the Gulf of Siam during Operation Eagle Pull in March 1975. Photo by Richard Spring, CMDCM (SW/AW) USN Ret. NavSource
Lary Harris was aboard when this photo was taken.
November 1981 - Hotel Pier - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by mffraizer (Flickr)
