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Tatarrax - (1947-1962)
See for more detailed data : Conastoga (1) - (1942-1942) & USS Lacklawanna (AO-40)
T2-SO Tanker, "Conastoga", completed as LACKAWANNA (AO 40).
Renamed Conastoga, 1946; Tatarrax, 1947; Thomas A., 1962; Padre Island, 1965. Scrapped Vinaroz, Spain, January, 1967.
Build by Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD., for USMC # 147, hullno. # 4359.
Scrapped in 1967, at Vinaroz, Spain.
"Tatarrax", ex. "Conastoga", ex. "Lackawanna", ex. "Conastoga".
"Tatarrax", ex. "Conastoga", ex. "Lackawanna", ex. "Conastoga".( Photo thanks to Edward O. Clark )
Tatarrax
LOA 501'4", Beam 68', Depth 37', ex CONASTOGA, 15,910 DWT, 129,000 bbls
General Electric turbines, cross-compound, double reduction gears, developing 12,000SHP at 105RPM 16.5 knots.
Launched as CONASTOGA 16 May and commissioned 20 June 1942 at Bethlehem*Shipbuilding Corporation, Sparrows Point, Maryland.
The name Conastoga is Iroquoian for “at the place of the submerged pole”. It was also the name of an important Iroquoian tribe which lived on the Susquehanna River. It has been applied to a breed of horses, a wagon of the prairie schooner type, and to a village in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
In 1939, Socony-Vacuum built six “M”class tankers, modified at the government’s expense to make them suitable for naval auxiliaries. The government retained an option to purchase the ships, and with the coming of war the six High Speed Tankers became government-owned.
After the War, the Navy retained three of the ships and Socony-Vacuum elected to repurchase two of them.
CONASTOGA was taken by the Navy on the day of commissioning, renamed USS LACKAWANNA (A0-40) and as such tagged at the heels of the combatant ships with a ready supply of fuel.
On her release from active duty she was repurchased by Socony-Vacuum and renamed TATARRAX.
In early 1954 she Was temporarily out of service after stranding on Matanilla Reef, 23 miles to east of Matanilla Shoal Buoy, in November 1953.
She was sold to Artemison SS Company and renamed THOMAS A in 1962. In 1965, she was sold to Steam Tankers Padre Island Incorporated and renamed PADRE ISLAND. She Was eventually broken up in Spain in 1967
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HISTORY :
CANASTOGA (1).
Yardnr. 4358. USMC nr. 147. Official nr. 241823.
Keel laid 27-12-1941. Launched 16-5-1942. Completed 10-7-1942. Gr. 9930 t., Net. 5928 t., Dw. 15850 t. L.o.a. 159,57 m., Br. 20,78 m., Dr. 9,19 m. Engine: 2 steam turbines, manufactured by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee. 12000 B.h.p., 8808 kW. Speed 15 knots. 26 tanks.
History:
CANASTOGA (1)-1942 completed Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, New York, U.S.A.
CANASTOGA (1)-1942 acquired by the Navy, 20 June.
CANASTOGA (1)-1942 placed in reduced commission status as USS Lackawanna (AO-40), 10 July, for transit to her fitting out yard at Baltimore, MD.
AO-40 LACKAWANNA-1942 commissioned in full, 31 July.
AO-40 LACKAWANNA-1946 decommissioned, 14 February, at Oakland, CA.
AO-40 LACKAWANNA-1946 struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946
AO-40 LACKAWANNA-1947 returned to the Maritime Commission, 1 July, name reverted to SS Conastoga
CANASTOGA (1)-1947 sold by the Maritime Commission to Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. (Standard Oil Company of New York), renamed SS Tatarrax
TATARRAX-1947 for Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, New York, U.S.A.
TATARRAX-1955 for Socony-Mobil Oil Company, Inc., New York, U.S.A.
TATARRAX-1961 for Mobil Tankers Company, SA , New York, U.S.A.
THOMAS A-1962 for Artemision SS Company SA , Panama.
PADRE ISLAND-1965 for Steam Tanker Padre Island Inc., Panama.
Additional Reports :
Reported Padre Island grounded 10 Feb. 1966 near Great Isaac Light, Bahamas in position 25.59 N / 79.08 W whilst on voyage from Emden to Pascagoula. Re-floated and repairs become uneconomical. Reported Padre Island sold to shipbreakers in Spain. Arrived Vinaroz 24 Dec. 1966 to be broken up.
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The Miramar Ship Index for
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CONASTOGA
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IDNo / IMO
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5359066
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Year
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1942
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Name
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CONASTOGA
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Flag
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USA
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Owner
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Socony-Vacuum Oil Co Inc., New York
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Type
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Tanker
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Tons
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9925
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DWT
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15850
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LOA
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152.9
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LPP
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148.7
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Beam
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20.7
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Dept
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11.28
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Draft
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9.04
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Machinery
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1ST-16.5
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kW
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8832 kW
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ShipDesign
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T2
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Builder
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Bethlehem-Sparrows Point SY
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Yard
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Sparrows Point
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Yard No
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4359
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Country built
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USA
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Keel
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27.12.1941
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Launch
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16.05.1942
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Completed
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10.07.1942
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Subsequent History
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1942 LACKAWANNA - U.S. Navy, USA
1946 CONASTOGA - U.S. Govt., USA
1947 TATARRAX - Socony-Vacuum Oil Co Inc., USA New York
1955 TATARRAX - Socony-Mobil Oil Co Inc., USA New York
1961 TATARRAX - Mobil Tankers Inc., PAN Panama
1962 THOMAS A. - Artemision SS Co., SA , PAN Panama
1965 PADRE ISLAND - Steam Tanker Padre Island Inc., PAN Panama
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End
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1966
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Disposal Data
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Scrapped at Vinaroz on 24.12.1966 (damaged by stranding 25.59 N / 79.08 W on 10.02.1966)
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