SMY 77 Mattole (AO 17)

New 1/1250 scale model of the American oiler Mattole by Saratoga (SMY 77) as in 1942.

One of two Kaweah class fleet oilers. Built by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia under USSB contract. Laid down 2 June 1919, launched 16 March 1920; acquired by US Navy 6 March 1922 and laid up at Philadelphia. Commissioned 16 June 1940.

Displacement 14,950 tons; 446 x 58 x 25.5 feet; ( 136 x 17.7 x 8.1 meters); vertical triple expansion steam engine, single propeller, SHP 2,800 = 11 knots; complement 107; armament 1942: 2 x 5''/51 ; 4 x 3''/50; 8 x 20 mm machine guns.

Laid up for 18 years until commissioned June 1940. Assigned North Atlantic duties sailing between New York, Boston and Reykjavik. November 1942 convoy to Casablanca and then back to New York January 1943. Intensive exercises out of Norfolk and Bermuda. April 1943 convoy to Gibraltar; overhaul Norfolk; station tanker Port of Spain, Trinidad till September 1943. Operated between New York, Boston and Newfoundland till mid 1945; interrupted by a slow convoy of landing craft and tugs to Cherbourg, France in November 1944. Arrived December 1944 at Plymouth, UK; January 1945 back to New York; July 1945 duty between Gulf Coast and Canal Zone. Decommissioned Norfolk 25 October 1945. Sold 1 May 1946 to Boston Metals, Baltimore, scrapping completed June 1947.