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Mobil Tankers
Vacuum (2) - (1920-1944)
See also : "Vaccum (2)" sinks Norwegian freighter "Solvang", New Jersey
 
The second "Vacuum", was built in 1920.
 
"Vacuum".
 
The second "Vacuum", seen here as USS Dawn (IX-186) moored pierside at Naval Station Norfolk, VA.
awaiting decommissioning, circa 8 February to 12 April 1946.
( Photo forwarded by John Clingman for Daniel Wilmes to honor
his father Robert K. Wilmes MM/3c USS Dawn )
 
Vacuum", seen her as USS Dawn (IX-186) moored pierside at Naval Station Norfolk, VA.
awaiting decommissioning, circa 8 February to 12 April 1946.
( Photo forwarded by John Clingman for Daniel Wilmes to honor
his father Robert K. Wilmes MM/3c USS Dawn )
 
Vacuum", seen her as USS Dawn (IX-186) moored pierside at Naval Station Norfolk, VA.
awaiting decommissioning, circa 8 February to 12 April 1946.
( Photo forwarded by John Clingman for Daniel Wilmes to honor
his father Robert K. Wilmes MM/3c USS Dawn )
 
Vacuum", seen her as USS Dawn (IX-186) discharging AVGAS at the Diloma Gas
Jetty at Subic Bay, circa 1 April to 19 July 1945.
( Photo forwarded by John Clingman for Daniel Wilmes to honor
his father Robert K. Wilmes MM/3c USS Dawn )

"Vacuum"
LOA 438 ' 5 "; Beam 57 ' ;Depth 33 '; 10,680 DWT; 83,238 bbls
Triple expansion engine 51" stroke
Commissioned 2 June 1920 at Moore Shipbuilding Company, Oakland, California, where she was built for Vacuum.
Entered Socony's fleet by merger in 1931.
Vacuum served in the Texas-to-Paulsboro run almost exclusively, carrying crude oil to the Paulsboro refinery.
A notable exception to this was in 1940 when she undertook a voyage from San Pedro, Mexico, to Vladivostok,
USSR. She also undertook a few voyages up and down the Pacific coast.
The entry of the US into WWII found her back on the east coast, where she escaped destruction during those first
hazardous months of 1942. She was requisitioned for war service in April 1942, sailing thereafter in transatlantic convoys
to the  UK and the Mediterranean. The lucky ball kept bouncing, and again she escaped attack and destruction.
In October 1943, Vacuum was delivered to US government ownership as part of a six-obsolete-for-three-new tankers barter.
Socony-Vacuum, acting as sub-agents for War Emergency Tankers Incorporated, continued to manage Vacuum after
the barter and until she was eyed by the Navy and taken over at Brisbane, Australia, on Christmas Day, 1944.
She then became USS Dawn and operated as a fleet oiler to the end of the war.

Dawn Class Mobile Floating Fuel Storage Ship:
Built in 1920 as Vacuum at Moore Shipbuilding Co., Oakland, CA.
Acquired by the Navy from the War Shipping Administration, 25 December 1944, at Brisbane, Australia
Commissioned Miscellaneous Unclassified USS Dawn (IX-186), 26 December 1944
Decommissioned, 12 April 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
Returned to the War Shipping Administration for disposal, 12 April 1946
Final Disposition, see below.

Specifications:
Displacement 15,381 t.(fl)
Length 438' 5"
Beam 57'
Draft27' 6"
Speed 9 kts.
Complement 107
Armament one 4" gun mount, one 3"/50 gun mount, eight 20mm guns
Propulsion system unknown.

Additional information :

VACUUM - 1920  USA   1T (aft)     (11)
7,009 GRT for Vacuum Oil Co., Inc., New York,  425.8 x 57.0
Tanker built by Moore SB. Co., Oakland, Calif.  (5),   #157,  220165
1931 - Standard-Vacuum Transportation Co., Inc., New York
1935 - Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., Inc., New York
1944 - U. S. War Shipping Administration, New York
12/1944 - DAWN, U. S. Navy  (IX-186)   station tanker
4/1946 - VACUUM, U. S. War Shipping Administration, New York
Broken up at Baltimore 2nd quarter 1947 by Patapsco Scrap Co.

The Miramar Ship Index for "VACUUM"
IDNo:
2220165
Year:
1920
Name:
VACUUM
Keel:
Type:
Tanker
Launch Date:
Flag:
USA
Date of completion:
05.1920

Tons:
7009
Link:
-
DWT:
Yard No:
157
Length overall:
Ship Design:
LPP:
129.7
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
17.4
Builder:
Moore DD
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Oakland
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
1T-11

Subsequent History:
1944 DAWN - 1946 VACUUM

Disposal Data:
Scrapped at Baltimore 2 quarte of 1947. [ By Patapsco Scrap Co. ]

History:
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Registered Owner
220165
2220165
1920
VACUUM
7009
Vacuum Oil Co Inc.
220165
2220165
1920
VACUUM
7009
1931
Standard-Vacuum Tptn Co Inc.
220165
2220165
1920
VACUUM
7009
1935
Socony-Vacuum Oil Co Inc.
IX-186
2220165
1920
DAWN
7009
1944
U.S. Navy
220165
2220165
1920
VACUUM
7009
1946
U.S. Govt.