July 6, 1955 by
Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (D., Minn.)
She was launched in December of 1954 and sponsored by Mrs. Edmund T. Woodridge, wife of Vice Adm. Wooldridge. Commander of the 2nd Fleet, Atlantic.
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Kawishiwi is named after a river
near Ely Minnesota
USS Kawishiwi AO-146
Is a 40,000 ton Navy fleet Oiler, used as a “floating service station”.
Not to be confused with a tanker that transports liquids between ports.
Kawishiwi in a typical
Underway Replenishment “UNREP” configuration, left with
USS Turner Joy and USS Kitty Hawk
23 April 1964
The 1st commander of Kawishiwi was
Captain Joseph P. Swain, USN. He remained until 1957
This brochure has been prepared by Vern Bouwman
His rate was SK at the time of commissioning which makes him a Plank Owner
He is currently acting as Kawishiwi’s Historian
They have guns for protection only. Work is required around the clock to service other ships and crew members feel important all the time.
Seas do get rough some of the time but the UNREP process must be carried out. It is dangerous work. Ships can not stop at sea to be serviced. A collision would certainly occur if they did so, due to the wave action. All ships involved must travel at about 20-25 knots to maintain control of their positions. / Nearly all persons have a negative image of an oiler. Refined fuel is transported on a fleet oiler, not crude oil. Navy Oilers have an excellent record for keeping their fuel out of the ecology threatened waters.
Every navy sailor, officers especially, has had second thoughts about serving on an oiler when they are first assigned. When their duty is over, they say it was the best duty they have had.
Oilers are a service station, not a war machine.
/ In the two photos above, Kawishiwi was full of fuel as is always planned when a storm is approaching. The next page shows an approaching typhoon as Kawishiwi experienced off Vietnam. She refueled all the ships in the area so they could out run the storm. This left the oiler high and empty; she did not outrun the storm.
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The Clinometer, shown above, displays what degree rolls a ship is in. During this voyage, the ship being empty, she rolled beyond 40° and the meter had to be removed from the bulkhead, turned over and replaced to get it back to proper working order.
/ The image at right displays only a 15° roll. Just think what a 40° roll might be like. /Hoses that deliver fuel to Kawishiwi’s customers are arranged in rigs like those shown at right with USS Enterprise CVA-65 approaching. When the customer sees that probe coming at them they better be ready to take on fuel.
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The probe takes many hours of maintenance. If you look closely you can see it looks just like those used in aerial refueling. Well that’s were the idea came from; the air force had it first.
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A typical rig set up is shown above. The Span Wire is the first component of a setup.
To place the connecting span wire to the customer’s ship, a small line is shot to her with a hand gun. In the 60’s this was done buy a man’s strong hand toss.The rig saddles and hoses are not small.
Many winches are used to handle the hoses.
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The ships use signal flags for communication in making this connection. The first section of hand line to the customer includes a physical pair of wires so communication can be carried out by voice.
This ship has 8 stations on the 01 deck with 2, 3, or 4 valves to connect the fuel line hoses to.
On the main deck below are the pipes that connect the pipes to the ships tanks. It is called the “JUNGLE DECK”.
/ This ship also has a stern refueling rig, installed after her 3 inch guns were removed.
All of this action involves every member of the oilers crew, and a good share of the customer’s crew. In the Jan. 2007 issue of “PROCEEDINGS”, Capt. Charles M. Gaouette USN, commander of USS Bunker Hill CG-52, describes the duties of commanding a ship. During UNREP he called his encounter, “FELLING THE BURN”. If you don’t feel it, you may not know what it going on.
This is UNREP
This is VERTREP
Both are necessary /
Supplies transferred may not just be fuel. It can include food, repair parts and even bombs and powder casings.
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Kawishiwi’s history includes her being present during two Apollo Recovery Forces. Logistics necessary for the recovery were maintained on the oiler.
Her Apollo XIII involvement was one of her proud moments, 17 April 1970.
The practice module at right was used by many ships prepared to handle a recovery if their ship happened to be the closest to the space ship landing. This photo was taken during Apollo 15 recovery, 7 August, 1971. /
Another proud duty for Kawishiwi was her part in “OPERATION FREQUENT WIND”, the Saigon Evacuation. First her fuel was transferred to the carriers, then helicopters used the fuel to evacuate refuges from the area.
Being at the scene, Kawishiwi was the 1st naval vessel to receive refugees and transport them to an island in the Philippines. Crew members had duty for a time on the island which was not too pleasant. One being the digging of latrines. /
Kawishiwi is moored very quietly in California’s Suisun Bay, up river from San Francisco. The U.S. Maritime Administration is responsible for the custody, preservation, maintenance and operation of the Ready Reserve Force ships. /
The number “1” spots the stern refueling rig on Kawishiwi, here in row “G”. Ships are L/R, Mispillion, Hassayampa, Kawishiwi, Pyro, (now gone), Ponchatoula and Nereus.
One Mooring location in Elliott Bay could be at Duwamish Head, straight across the bay from
The ODYSSEY Maritime Museum of Seattle, Washington
Other Mooring thoughts can be found at:
http://www.memorieshop.com/Seattle/broucher.html
This ship can be made useful. It is our duty to make sure she is.
See one way she could be configured. Additional decks within the tanks for storage, tanks used to store water or fuel, all needed in the area she is moored when disaster strikes. The tank compartments as well other existing compartments and above deck spaces can also be used for museum displays.
Even HOMELAND SECURITY could utilize the command area for example for and outpost to watch over the local harbor. Perhaps a couple tanks could be used for research of local waters.
A 5th possible use would be to house “HOMELESS VETERANS” in the many sleeping compartments. See green compartments in deck plans below.
01 Deck02 Deck
/ Main Deck
03 Deck
PLEASE MAKE CONTACT
WITH YOUR U.S. SENATOR
AND
REQUEST THAT THIS SHIP BE REMOVED FROM
DISPOSAL STATUS
AND
PLACE ON
HISTORICAL REVIEW STATUS
At Duwamish Head, Kawishiwi would be attracted to everyone, from all directions. If HOMELAND SECURITY were aboard, they would have the best spot on the bay for observing every day action. A 5in.-38 and a quad 3in.-50 could be mounted for looks. GETTING REAL SERIOUS, A WORKING MK15 PHALANX COULD BE MOUNTED JUST BEHIND THE STACK.