1981-1991
(click on the red-highlighted years for images of that year)

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Midway (CVA-41) c. early 1980s

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Midway (CVA-41) c. early 1980s
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Photos and text submitted by Capt. Pat Moloney
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18

19

20
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The Hassayampa was well known in the
MSC fleet for being the hottest of the 143 Class oilers in the
engineering spaces. The KAWISHIWI and PONCHATOULA had over twice the
money spent on them in the conversions to MSC operation. On the other
hand we were a Far East ship and spent most of our time in the tropics.
It was with some trepidation that we're being assigned to Vladivostok
Patrol. MISPILLION got it first, supporting the watchdog escort on
snooping assignment. She got beat up pretty badly. Our turn was next but
something came up and the PONCHATOULA got sent instead. She got the crap beat
out of her. By now, I had the advantage of several lessons learned
through reports and was preparing for our time in the barrel. I took a bunch of
flack in Subic when we loaded snow shovels but I had a plan. This was
one of those few cases where you plan ahead and everything actually
works! You wouldn't want to get accustomed to that because it almost
never happens twice (not twice in a row...twice!!!). Note photo
#18: the boom on #3 rig has been replaced with an outrigger. We
were getting out of the 1950's. In any case, we had our day in the
barrel. We planned it and ran it. It was great. The frigate made her
approach in 600 yd visibility, surfaced in on some of the biggest swells
I've ever seen (got video of the sonar dome out of the water), refueled her,
relieving the rig crew every 15 minutes with a port and starboard
gang, got away and headed for Sasebo. Tension down, I could relax a bit.
One of our not-so-Able Seamen had the wheel and managed to fall off into
the trough in the next several minutes. Note the starboard railing on
photo 18. I scrambled back up to the bridge and must say, in my 51 years,
I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've lost my
temper. That was one of them. Otherwise, there's our Hot Weather
Hassayampa as an Ice Queen. Our preparations worked as expected. Fire
hoses ran overboard from bow and stern, steam winches were rolling on a
few stations, and anchor windlass was rolling. The ship was ready but us
thin-blooded Asiatics had some adjusting to do. |
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This could be almost anywhere, but I
think it's South China Sea. Just slogging along, taking it on the chin.
From the size of the billow, I'd say we were pushing 18 knots to make a
commitment.
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This always used to make my day. I'm a
seaman and have enough common sense to be superstitious in some matters.
having porpoise around the ship was clear good luck. In the photo you
can see the paravane skeg at keel level as the light band, then the
reflection of the bow beyond it. |
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This is early 1981, heading to the Indian Ocean. This was a heavy deck load. Note the boats
have been replaced by reefer vans and the rigs have protective cages over them. We haven't
gotten rid of the boom on #3 rig yet, as that is still a couple years off. I'm still Cargo Mate at this time.
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Three of the Masters of the Hassayampa. Left side, Capt. Pat Moloney (32 yrs old), next is one
of the Able Seamen and his bride of about one hour and I'm ashamed to not remember his name.
He was a good seaman. Middle: Capt. Josh Johnson, one of the funniest guys ever to bless this
earth, but checked out several months ago. Partially hidden, Cargo Mate Mark Brandlin, later
master of MSC ships, now in medical retirement in Guam. On the right is Capt. Don Gavin.
Don relieved Josh, and I relieved Don. The year of the photo was 1984. |
USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145),
c. 1981
A starboard view of the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS BAINBRIDGE (CGN-25)
with other ships. Three submarines, including the nuclear-powered attack submarine
USS HADDOCK (SSN-621), are docked off the port bow of the BAINBRIDGE. The four ships
on the other side of the pier are, right to left: the guided missile cruiser USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG-32),
the guided missile destroyer USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG-7), the guided missile cruiser
USS STERETT (CG-31) and the oiler USNS HASSAYAMPA (T-AO-145).
Naval Station, Subic Bay, Luzon Philippines ~ 28 Aug 1981

Additional shot of Naval Base, Subic Bay, with the city of Olongapo in the background. The ships docked
at the pier in the foreground are, from right: the oiler USNS HASSAYAMPA
(T-AO-145), the guided missile
cruiser USS STERETT (CG-31), the guided missile destroyer USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG-7) and the
guided missile cruiser WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG-32).
Naval Station, Subic Bay, Luzon Philippines ~ 28 Aug 1981

Additional view of the pier area with docked ships including the auxiliary stores ship USNS RIGEL (T-AF-58)
and the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS BAINBRIDGE (CGN-25) in the foreground. At left are
the oiler USNS HASSAYAMPA (T-AO-145), the guided missile cruiser USS STERETT (CG-31), the guided missile
destroyer USS HENRY B. WILSON (DDG-7) and the guided missile cruiser USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG-32).
Naval Station, Subic Bay, Luzon Philippines ~ 28 Aug 1981

August 28, 1981: Naval Station Subic Bay, Luzon, the Philippines
View of docked ships including guided missile destroyer USS Berkeley (DDG-15),
frigate USS Hepburn (FF-1055), USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145),
guided missile cruiser USS Sterrett(CG-31) and guided missile destroyer USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7)

August 28, 1981: Naval Station Subic Bay, Luzon, the Philippines

August 28, 1981: Naval Station Subic Bay, Luzon, the Philippines

USNS Passumpsic (T-AO 107)
berthed port side of USNS Hassayampa (T-AO145) Subic Bay,
Philippines June 1982

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) underway,
October 1982

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) underway,
October 1982

USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) at anchor, Singapore, circa 1984
USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145), February 2, 1985 taken by Pat Moloney, Master,
upon returning to the ship from Masirah Island, Oman by helicopter prior to being put aboard by
horsecollar

USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) departing Fremantle, Australia, April 1985

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145)
c. 198
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USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) alongside POL Pier, Subic Bay, Philippines, February 1986
Subic Bay, Olongapo, Philippines February 1986

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) conducting underway replenishment operations
with unidentified vessel c. December 1986

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) conducting underway replenishment operations
with unidentified vessel c. December 1986

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) at anchor, c. 1986

USNS
Hassayampa (T-AO 145) pierside, Subic Bay, Phillipines February 1987

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Midway (CV-41) April 1987
USNS Kiluea (T-AE 26) in background
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145), Indian Ocean, operating with Battle Group Echo,
c. 1987
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USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Ranger (CV-61) to port and USS Shasta (AE-33) to starboard
27 September 1987
Battle Group Echo in formation ~ November 1, 1987
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) is the last ship on the far starboard column from USS Ranger (CV-61)
(From the left,
aft to forward)
Column 1: USNS Hassayampa (T-AO-145), USS Leftwich (DD-984), USS Hoel
(DDG-13);
Column 2: USS Kansas City (AOR-3), USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), USS Robert E. Peary
(FF-1073);
Column 3: USS Long Beach (CGN-9), USS Ranger (CV-61), USS Missouri (BB-63);
Column 4: USS Wichita (AOR-1), USS Gridley (CG-21), USS Curts (FFG-38);
Column 5: USS Shasta (AE-33), USS John Young (DD-973), USS Buchanan (DDG-14)
Battle Group Echo in formation ~ November 1, 1987
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) is the last ship on the far starboard column from USS Ranger (CV-61)
(From starboard, aft to forward)
(click here for a 1600x1280 px
image)
Column 1: USNS Hassayampa (T-AO-145), USS Leftwich (DD-984), USS Hoel
(DDG-13);
Column 2: USS Kansas City (AOR-3), USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), USS Robert E. Peary
(FF-1073);
Column 3: USS Long Beach (CGN-9), USS Ranger (CV-61), USS Missouri (BB-63);
Column 4: USS Wichita (AOR-1), USS Gridley (CG-21), USS Curts (FFG-38);
Column 5: USS Shasta (AE-33), USS John Young (DD-973), USS Buchanan (DDG-14)
Battle Group Echo in formation ~ November 1, 1987
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) is the last ship on the far starboard column from USS Ranger (CV-61)
(From starboard, aft to forward)
(click here for a 1600x1280 px
image)
Column 1: USNS Hassayampa (T-AO-145), USS Leftwich (DD-984), USS Hoel
(DDG-13);
Column 2: USS Kansas City (AOR-3), USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), USS Robert E. Peary
(FF-1073);
Column 3: USS Long Beach (CGN-9), USS Ranger (CV-61), USS Missouri (BB-63);
Column 4: USS Wichita (AOR-1), USS Gridley (CG-21), USS Curts (FFG-38);
Column 5: USS Shasta (AE-33), USS John Young (DD-973), USS Buchanan (DDG-14)
Battle Group Echo conducting fleur de lis ship movement ~ November 1, 1987
Inner
port column turning 15 degrees to port Outer port
column turning 30 degrees to port
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Center
column bearing 0 degrees relative |
Outer
starboard column turning 30 degrees to starboard Inner
starboard column turning 15 degrees to starboard
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Battle Group Echo c. 1987
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The 1987 COMCARGRU 1 / Battle
Group Echo deployment to the Arabian Sea included USS Ranger (CV-61), USS
Missouri (BB-63); USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145), USS Leftwich (DD-984), USS
Hoel (DDG-13); USS Kansas City (AOR-3), USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), USS Robert
E. Peary (FF-1073); USS Long Beach (CGN-9), USS Wichita (AOR-1) , USS Gridley (CG-21), USS
Curts (FFG-38); USS Shasta (AE-33), USS John Young
(DD-973) and USS Buchanan (DDG-14)
During the 1987 Indian Ocean deployment the USS Missouri Battle Group
was combined
into the USS Ranger Battle Group Echo and became Joint Task Force 200
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USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Missouri (BB-63) to port
and USS Leftwich (DD 984) to starboard
USS Ford (FFG-54)in foreground November 1987

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Missouri (BB-63) to port
and USS Leftwich (DD 984) to starboard
USS Ford (FFG-54)in foreground November 1987

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Missouri (BB-63) to port
with USS Leftwich (DD-984) approaching to starboard
USS Ford (FFG-54)in foreground November 1987

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) refueling USS Missouri (BB-63) to port
and USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) to starboard
USS Leftwich (DD-984) in foreground November 1987

USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) conducting replenishment operations
with an SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter; November 1987
USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) during
replenishment operations with USS Okinawa (LPH-3)
c. 1988
USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) during replenishment operations with USS Okinawa (LPH-3) c. 1988
USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) c. 1989
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) c. 1989
USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) ~ North Arabian Sea ~ September 1990
A UH-46 Sea Knight helicopter lifts a load of supplies during
underway replenishment operations during operation Desert Shield
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO
145),
c.1990
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO
145), c.1990
USNS Hassayampa
(T-AO 145) refueling Belgian Navy Ship BNS Wielingen F910
c. 1991 during Operation Southern Breeze (7 January - 17 June 1991)
[for additional photos of Hassayampa/Wielingen click
here]
USNS Hassayampa (T-AO 145) September 23, 1991
U.S. Naval Station, Subic Bay, Philippines, just prior to decommission date, October 2, 1991
(aerial view also showing volcanic ash damage to base following eruption of Mount Pinatubo)