One of the ships that was at Suisun Bay in the "Ghost Fleet," but is now in Richmond, California, undergoing bottom cleaning in preparation for it being towed to Brownsville, Texas. for scrapping is the USS Mission Santa Ynez. a World War II veteran and the last of the 500 Type T2 tankers built for the war effort.
It was built by the US Maritime Commission during the war and acquired by the Navy afterwards where it became AO-134. It is a Mission Bueanaventura Class oiler and named for the Mission Santa Ynez in Solvang, California.
The Marinship Corporation of Sausalito, California, laid down the keel September 9, 1943, and launched December 19, 1943. The war years were spend delivering oil to our forces overseas. At war's conclusion it was placed in the James River, Virginia, Maritime Reserve Fleet until the Navy got it in 1947. It provided service in the Korean War as well.
It joined the Suisun fleet in 1975 and has been there ever since, slowly rusting away.
It is 524 feet long with a 68 foot beam and carried a crew of 52 and no armament.
It is really too bad that this ship can't be saved, although most likely it is too far gone. I would like to have at least one example of every major World War II class of ships preserved to honor the Greatest Generation. Especially since it is the last one.
Save That Old Ship. --DaCoot
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