View source for USS Abatan

{{Short description|Distilling ship in the US Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=USS Abatan (AW-4).jpg
 |image_caption= ''Abatan'' at [[Mare Island Navy Yard]] in 1945.<br/>Her [[camouflage]] scheme is Measure 32, Design 7AO.
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United States
 |flag= {{USN flag|1955}}
 |name=USS ''Abatan''
 |namesake=
 |ordered=
 |builder= [[Marinship|Marinship Corporation]], [[Sausalito, California]]
 |laid_down= 9 June 1944
 |launched= 6 August 1944
 |acquired=
 |commissioned=29 January 1945
 |decommissioned=27 January 1947
 |struck=1 July 1960
 |reinstated=27 September 1962
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=yes
 |recommissioned= 
 |decommissioned= 
 |in_service=1962
 |out_of_service=1979
 |struck=1 May 1970
 |renamed=
 |reclassified=
 |homeport=
 |motto=
 |nickname=
 |honors= 
 |fate=Sunk as a target, 1980
 |notes=
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |type=''Pasig''-class [[distilling ship]]
 |displacement=*{{convert|6640|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} light
               * {{convert|23350|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full
 |length= {{convert|523|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
 |beam= {{convert|68|ft|m|abbr=on}}
 |draft= {{convert|30|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
 |depth=
 |hold_depth=
 |propulsion= Turbo-electric, single propeller
 |speed= {{convert|15.1|kn|lk=in}}
 |range=
 |complement=265 officers and enlisted
 |armament=*1 × [[5-inch/38-caliber gun]]
           *4 × [[3-inch/50-caliber gun]]s
           *4 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm guns]]
           *4 × twin [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm guns]]
 |armor=
 |notes=
 }}
}}
'''USS ''Abatan'' (AW-4)''' was a [[USS Pasig (AW-3)|''Pasig''-class]] [[distilling ship]] built for the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]], named after the [[Abatan River]] located in the southwestern part of [[Bohol Island]] in the [[Philippines]].<ref name=NHHC>{{cite web|title=Abatan (AW-4)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/abatan.html|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command|access-date=5 December 2017|date=9 July 2015}}</ref>

Originally laid down as SS ''Mission San Lorenzo'' under a [[United States Maritime Commission]] contract on 9 June 1944 at [[Sausalito, California]] by the Marinship Corporation, she was renamed '''USS ''Abatan''''' on 25 July 1944 in anticipation of her acquisition by the Navy and simultaneously designated '''AO-92''' for naval service as an [[Oiler (ship)|oiler]], launched on 6 August 1944, sponsored by Mrs. [[John A. McCone]], transferred to the Navy on 28 November 1944 at the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]], [[Vallejo, California]], converted there for naval service, completed as a distilling ship, redesignated '''USS ''Abatan'' (AW-4)''' on 24 August 1944 and placed in commission on 29 January 1945.

==Service history==
===World War II, 1945===
Late in February, the new distilling ship got underway for shakedown training off the coast of southern California. She left the continental United States on the 28th and shaped a course for the Western [[Caroline Islands]]. After pausing en route at [[Eniwetok]], ''Abatan'' reached [[Ulithi]] on 21 March and remained there for more than six months providing potable water to various types of landing craft, patrol vessels, and escort ships. During this period of her service, [[Japanese surrender|Japan capitulated]] in mid-August.

===Post-war activities, 1945–1946===
The ship sailed for [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] on 1 October, and stopped en route at [[Samar, Philippine Islands]], to take on fresh water before continuing on to the Ryukyus. She reached her destination on 11 October and began issuing water to various fleet units. The ship left Okinawa on 15 November and set a course for Shanghai, China. She touched at that port on the 18th and remained stationed there through April 1946. The vessel left Chinese waters on 2 May and sailed via [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] to the [[Marshall Islands]]. ''Abatan'' reached Eniwetok on 31 May and assumed duties in connection with "[[Operation Crossroads]]," a series of tests conducted to determine the effects of atomic explosions upon warships. She was involved in this project until 27 June, when she weighed anchor and got underway for Kwajalein. The distilling ship arrived there the next day and remained in port providing potable water through 17 July. She then commenced a voyage to the east coast of the United States. The vessel visited [[Pearl Harbor]], Hawaii, in late July; transited the [[Panama Canal]]; reported to the [[United States Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]] in mid-August; and then proceeded to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She arrived there on 20 August and entered a preinactivation availability phase.

===Decommissioned, 1947 –1962===
''Abatan'' was placed out of commission, in reserve, on 27 January 1947 and was berthed at Philadelphia. Her name was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register|Navy list]] on 1 July 1960, and the ship was transferred to the [[Maritime Administration]] for layup in the [[James River]].

===Water storage ship, 1962–1979===
''Abatan'' was reacquired by the Navy and reinstated on the Navy list on 27 September 1962 for use as a backup fresh water storage ship at the Naval Base, [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Guantánamo Bay]], Cuba. She was again struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 1 May 1970 but was retained as a hulk for storing water at [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Guantánamo Bay]].

Late in 1979 all desirable equipment was removed from the hull, which was expended as a target on 10 March 1980 approximately {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of [[Guadeloupe]] at 16 N – 62 W.

==Citations==
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==References==

*{{cite web|title=''Abatan''|work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a1/abatan.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040226052736/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a1/abatan.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 February 2004|access-date=13 March 2007}}
*{{cite web|title=AO-92 / AW-4 ''Abatan''|website=NavSource|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/09/45/4504.htm|access-date=14 March 2007}}

{{US Distilling Ships}}
{{Type T2-SE-A2 tankers}}
{{1980 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abatan (Aw-4)}}
[[Category:Pasig-class distilling ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Sausalito, California]]
[[Category:1944 ships]]
[[Category:World War II distilling ships of the United States]]