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Mission San Miguel
See also : Construction photos "Mission San Miguel"

T2-SE-A2
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:
 SS Mission San Miguel launching and Christening ceremony, 31 October 1943, Marinship, Sausalito, CA.
( Photo thnaks to Leo Bangsund )
USNS "Mission San Miguel", place and date unknown.

Casualty Narrative
“The USNS Mission San Miguel, a T-2 type tanker of 10,461 gross tons, built in 1944, owned by the U.S. Navy, civilian manned and operated in the Military Sea Transportation Service, departed Guam, M. I. in ballast, on 1 October 1957 bound for Seattle, Washington, under U.S. Navy sailing orders which included positions to be traversed along a track passing through the Hawaiian Archipelago about 23 miles south of Maro Reef. In the evening of October 8 while proceeding at full speed - about 15 knots -weather overcast with rain squalls, the vessel struck this reef, piercing her bottom. Because of jammed valves, the cargo pumps were unusable to counteract the progressive flooding which followed through failure of pump room, engine room and cargo space bulkheads previously weakened by extensive wastage. On 10 October all personnel were removed by other U.S. Navy ships without injury or loss of life. The vessel valued at $2,000,000 was abandoned as a total loss.”

Casualty Information
Port Departed: Apra Harbor, Guam Destination Port: Seattle, WA
Date Departed: October 1, 1957 Date Lost: October 5, 1957
Number of Days Sailing: ˜ 5 Cause of Sinking: Grounding
Latitude (DD): 25.37167 Longitude (DD): -170.5683
Nautical Miles to Shore: 1 Nautical Miles to NMS: 0
Nautical Miles to MPA: 0 Nautical Miles to Fisheries: Unknown
Approximate Water Depth (Ft): 30 Bottom Type: Coral reef
Is There a Wreck at This Location? No, the wreck has not been relocated, it may have drifted into deeper water as it broke apart
Wreck Orientation: Unknown
Vessel Armament: None
Cargo Carried when Lost: Seawater ballast  
Cargo Oil Carried (bbl): 0 Cargo Oil Type: N/A
Probable Fuel Oil Remaining (bbl): = 14,500 Fuel Type: Medium Fuel Oil (Diesel)
Total Oil Carried (bbl): = 14,500 Dangerous Cargo or Munitions: No
Munitions Carried: None
Demolished after Sinking: No Salvaged: No
Cargo Lost: N/A Reportedly Leaking: No
Historically Significant: Yes (one of last T2-SE-A2 tankers left) Gravesite: No
Salvage Owner: Not known if any Section 1: Vessel Background Information: Remediation of Underwater Legacy Environment

 USNS "Mission San Miguel", stranded on Maro Reef, Hawaii, on or after 8 Oct 1957. She is stuck fast and breaking up.
The vessels 45 man crew fought for more than 24 hours to the ship, but removed after it became apparent their efforts were futile.
( United Press Telephoto of 12 October 1957 from a US Navy photo )

MISSION SAN MIGUEL, T2-SE-A2
History :
Built by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania.
Built by Marinship Co., Sausalito, California.
Yardnumber 30. UMSC No. 1273. Off. nr. 244739.
Keel laid 11-08-1943. Launched 31-10-1943. Completed 19-02-1944. 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 MIGUEL-1944 Completed for U.S. War Shipping Administration, San Francisco, USA.
MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1944 Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 19 February for charter to Pacific Tankers, Inc.
MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1946 Returned to the Maritime Commission, 20 May, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL.
AO-129 MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1947 Acquired by Navy, 4 November, and assigned to the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) as Mission San Miguel (AO-129) to be operated under a charter by American Pacific Steamship Co.
AO-129 MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1949 Operational control transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service, 1 October. Redesignated USNS Mission San Miguel (T-AO-129)
AO-129 MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1950 Placed out of service, 22 March. Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego, CA.
T-AO-129 MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1950 Placed in service, 24 July under Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) control as Mission San Miguel (T-AO-129)
T-AO-129 MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1954 Placed out of service, 28 May, and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego
T-AO-129 MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1956 Reactived and assigned to MSTS, 1 November.
T-AO-129 MISSION SAN MIGUEL-1957 Struck from the Naval Register, 20 December.
Additional Reports :
Reported Mission San Miguel grounded 8 Oct. 1957 on Maro Reef, 775 miles north west of Hawaii, whilst on a voyage from Guam to Seattle, in ballast. Abandoned by crew and owners.    
Reported Mission San Miguel sank after using as military target.

SS Mission San Miguel, T-2 Tanker, hull # 30, keel laid 8/11/43, launched Oct. 31, 1943. Sponsor: Mrs. John W. Hardie, wife of Ship Construction Superintendent John W. Hardie; Matron of Honor, Mrs. Leonard R. H. Hardie, daughter-in-law of Mr. & Mrs. John W. Hardie. Aground Laysan Reef, abandoned 10/9/57. Still in existance in October, 1960 (?).