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Requisitioned Auxiliary – Big Horn

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Big Horn 

Pennant Number:                   AO 45 / WAO 124 / IX 207         

Laid down:                              30 November 1935

Builder:                                    Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Chester, Pa

Launched:                               2 May 1936

Into Service:                            WW2

Out of service:                         6 May 1946

Fate:                                        7 July 1960 arrived Kure to be broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data:  One of a group of additional American – flagged ships which served as Escort Oilers during WW2

Career Data:

20 August 1935 ordered

30 November 1935 laid down

2 May 1936 launched by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Chester, Pa as Yard Nr 154 named GULFDAWN for Gulf Oil Corp, Philadelphia

June 1936 completed

23 March 1942  U.S. Auxilliary Vessels Board recommended her acquisition for service as a Q-ship

31 March 1942 acquired at New York for USN service

15 April 1942 commissioned as USS BIG HORN  (AO 45). Commander James A Gainard USNR appointed in command

22 April 1942 sailed New York after partial conversion by Bethlehem Steel Co at Brooklyn

23 April 1942 arrived Boston Navy Yard for further conversion for service as a Q-ship

22 July 1942 conversion into a Q-ship completed 

26 August 1942 entered Boston Navy Yard for further alterations and repairs. Remained in Boston Navy Yard hands until 12 September 1942
27 September 1942 began operations as a Q-ship in the Atlantic – sailed from New York attached to a convoy to Guantanamo Bay
9 October 1942 berthed at Port of Spain, Trinidad
16 October 1942 sailed Trinidad returning to the island on 29 October 1942
10 November 1942 sailed Trinidad to Curacao
21 November 1942 sailed Curacao to New York arriving 1 December 1942
17 February 1943 sailed New York for New London, Connecticut arriving the next day

19 February 1943 joined an anti submarine task group with three PC boats – PC560, PC617 and PC618. Anti submarine measures had been so successful that no vessels had been sunk in coastal waters since July 1942. This Task Group was designed to hunt U-boats in the central Atlantic; the three PC-boats would escort Big Horn, which would act as bait and support in anti submarine combat, as well as be a fuel and supply ship for the escorts

17 May 1943 returned to New York
27 July 1943 sailed Hampton Roads in Convoy UGS13 to Port Said arriving 24 August 1943. During this convoy acted as an Escort Oiler. RFA Cedardale joined this convoy from Malta to Alexandria. RFA Oligarch was in this convoy but was damaged and remained at Alexandria until 1946
7 October 1943 concluded her final assignment as a Q-ship
17 January 1944 transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard for Weather Patrol Duty as BIG HORN (WAO 124)
22 January 1944 struck from the Naval Register
2 December 1944 relieved of Weather Duty by new frigates

1 February 1945 transferred back to the USN as USS BIG HORN (IX 207)

19/01-04/03/44 converted to Station Tanker by General Ship & Engineering Works, Boston

05 – 08/45 served as a shuttle tanker in the Central and Western Pacific

10/45 – 02/46 served as Station Oiler at Nagoya

06/05/46 decommissioned

03/07/46  struck from the Naval  Register

22/11/46 approved for disposal

1948 purchased by Sabine Transportation Co, U.S.A. and renamed C.B. WATSON

1955 purchased by Penfield Corporation, Liberia and renamed R.A. HUMMEL

1958 renamed TRINITY TRADER by her owners.

1959  purchased by  Oswego Bulk Carriers Inc, Liberia and renamed OSWEGO TRADER

7 July 1960 arrived Kure for demolition by Japanese breakers