USS Sheepscot

History
United States
Name	USS Sheepscot
Namesake	Sheepscot River in Maine
Ordered	as Androscoggin, T1-M-A2 tanker hull, MC hull 2629
Laid down	15 December 1943
Launched	9 April 1944
Acquired	13 June 1944
Commissioned	27 June 1944
Stricken	1 November 1945
Fate	capsized off Iwo Jima, 6 June 1945
General characteristics
Tonnage	1,228 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement	846 tons(lt) 2,270 tons(fl)
Length	220 ft 6 in
Beam	37 ft
Draught	17 ft
Propulsion	Diesel direct drive, single screw, 720 hp
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement	62
Armament	one single 3 in (76 mm) dual purpose gun mount, two 40 mm guns, three single 20 mm gun mounts

USS Sheepscot (AOG-24) was a Mettawee-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

Sheepscot, as Androscoggin, was laid down under Maritime Commission contract on 15 December 1943 by the East Coast Shipyard, Inc., Bayonne, New Jersey; launched on 9 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. John J. Gogan; (MC hull 2629) was acquired by the Navy on 13 June 1944; and commissioned on 27 June 1944.

After brief service in the Atlantic Ocean, the gasoline tanker was transferred to the Pacific Ocean.

Sheepscot ran aground and capsized near Iwo Jima on 6 June 1945. She was damaged beyond repair and was destroyed. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 November 1945.

Sheepscot’s crew was eligible for the following:

• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AOG-24 Sheepscot