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Mission San Fernando
See also : Construction photos "Mission San Fernando" & Vanguard (T-AG-194) ex. Mission San Fernando
See also : Mission San Fernando, converted to a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship (AGM) - Part - 1 &
Mission San Fernando, converted to a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship (AGM) - Part - 2

T2-SE-A2
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:

 
USS Mission San Fernando (T-AO-122) underway in the harbor at Long Beach, CA., date unknown.
( Photo thanks to David Buell )
 
USS Mission San Fernando (T-AO-122) at anchor off Long Beach/San Pedro, CA., area, date unknown.
( Photo thanks to David Buell )
 
USS Mission San Fernando (T-AO-122) underway, circa 1953, location unknown.
( Photo thanks to Robert Hurst )
 
"Mission San Fernando".
( News Paper Photo )
 
ex Mission San Fernando (AO-122) in dry dock at Quincy. Only her bow and stern were retained in the
construction as Muscle Shoals (AGM-19) . USAF photo from Patrick AFB archives.
( Photo thanks to Dan Kovalchik )

MISSION SAN FERNANDO, T2-SE-A2
History :
Built by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania.Built by Marinship Co., Sausalito, California.
Yardnumber 31. UMSC No. 1274. Off. nr. 244938.
Keel laid 26-08-1943. Launched 25-11-1943. Completed 29-02-1944. Gr. 10448 t., Net. 6423 t., Dw. 16613 t. L.o.a. 159,57 m., Br. 20,78 m., Dr. 8,99 m. Engine: 2 steam turbines, manufactured by General Electric Company, Lynn, Massachussetts. 10000 B.h.p., 7356 kW. Speed 15 knots. 26 Tanks.
History:
MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1944 Completed for U.S. War Shipping Administration, San Francisco, USA.
MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1944 Delivered to the Naval Transportation Service, 29 February for charter by Pacific Tankers, Inc. for operation
MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1946 Returned to the Maritime Commission, 10 May, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet Olympia, WA.
AO-122 MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1947 Acquired by the Navy, 21 October, for charter to Union Oil Co. and placed in service under the operational control of the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) as Mission San Fernando (AO-122)
T-AO-122 MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1949 Transferred to the operational control the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 October and placed in service as USNS Mission San Fernando (T-AO-122)
T-AO-122 MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1955 Placed out of service, 24 May. Returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA. Struck from the Naval Register, 22 June.
T-AO-122 MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1956 Reacquired by the Navy, 21 Jun, and placed in service with MSTS, operated under charter to Marine Transportation Lines.
T-AO-122 MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1957 Placed out of service, 4 September 1957. Returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
T-AO-122 MISSION SAN FERNANDO-1964 Reacquired by the Navy, 28 September.
T-AGM-19 Mussel Shoals-1966 Converted to a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship (AGM) at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA. Renamed and reclassified USNS MUSEEL SHOALS (T-AGM-19) while undergoing conversion
T-AGM-19 VANGUARD-1965 Renamed VANGUARD, 1 September.
T-AGM-19 VANGUARD-1966 Placed in service with MSTS as USNS VANGUARD (T-AGM-19), 28 February.
T-AGM-19 VANGUARD-1980 Reclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary (Navigational Test Launch Ship) (T-AG-194) in September.
T-AGM-19 VANGUARD-1999 Placed out of service. Struck from the Naval Register 13 December. Custody transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
Additional Reports :
Reported Muscle Shoals converted into Missile Test Range vessel in 1966.
New dimensions 15309 grt
Reported Vanguard laid up in National Defense Reserve Fleet in James River, Fort Eustis, Virginia since 1999, for disposal.
Reported Vanguard cleared for disposal, 15 November 2006. Sold for breaking up on January, 2014, she is being recycled at Marine Metal Inc. recycle slip in Brownsville, Texas.

SS Mission San Fernando, T-2 Tanker, hull # 31, keel laid 8/26/43, launched Nov 25, 1943 Sponsor: Miss Ruth Bernice Krohn, W. A. Bechtel Co. employee; maid of honor, Delma Powell, also W. A. Bechtel Co. employee. In USMC Reserve Fleet in October, 1960. One of 3 tankers built at the Marinship that was used for tracking, monitoring the Apollo Project 1970. All were renamed twice, but not clear which name goes with which. This is the 3rd listed and may have been renamed "Mercury" (sticken from Navy 4/29/70.