USS Enoree (AO-69)

Aerial view of USS Enoree (AO-69) near Norfolk, Virginia, on 17 May 1943
History
United States
Name:	USS Enoree
Namesake:	The Enoree River in South Carolina
Ordered:	as T3-S-A1 tanker hull; MC hull 517
Builder:	Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point, Maryland.
Laid down:	as SS Sachem
Launched:	29 August 1942
Acquired:	23 January 1943
Commissioned:	as USS Enoree (AO-69), 23 January 1943
Decommissioned:	27 March 1947
Recommissioned:	18 October 1950
Decommissioned:	10 December 1954
Recommissioned:	10 December 1956
Decommissioned:	22 October 1957
Struck:	1 February 1959
Honors and awards:	Five battle stars for World War II
Fate:	Sold for scrapping 27 April 1976
Notes:	Call Sign: Nan Zebra King Charley
General characteristics
Class and type:	Chiwawa class oiler
Type:	MARAD T3-S-A1
Tonnage:	16,543 DWT
Displacement:	21,077 tons
Length:	501 ft 7.75 in (152.9017 m)
Beam:	68 ft (21 m)
Draft:	29 ft 10.5 in (9.106 m)
Depth:	37 ft (11 m)
Installed power:	7,000 shp (5,200 kW)
Propulsion:	geared steam turbine single screw
Speed:	15.3 knots (28.3 km/h)
Range:	14,500 nmi (26,900 km; 16,700 mi)
Capacity:	133,800 bbl (~18,250 t)
Complement:	13 officers 200 enlisted
Armament:	one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, four 3"/50 guns, four twin 40mm gun mounts, four twin 20mm gun mounts

USS Enoree (AO-69) was a Chiwawa-class oiler constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the Enoree River in South Carolina.

The tanker SS Sachem – T3 laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC Hull No. 517) on 8 April 1942 at Sparrows Point, Maryland, by the Bethlehem Steel Company and launched on 29 August 1942 – was renamed SS Enoree and designated as a fuel oil tanker (AO-69) on 17 September 1942. Acquired by the U.S. Navy on 23 January 1943, Enoree was commissioned the same day with Commander William S. Campbell in command.

Departing Baltimore, Maryland, on 27 January 1943 for Norfolk, Virginia, her conversion having been completed the previous day, Enoree proceeded thence to Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York, arriving on 3 March 1943, where she was involved in a minor collision with the U.S. Navy oiler USS Sapelo (AO-11). While Enoree suffered no damage in the mishap, Sapelo required minor repairs. Shifting thence to the waters off Ambrose Light, Enoree, escorted by the destroyer USS Niblack (DD-424) departed on 8 March 1943 for Hampton Roads, Virginia, arriving the following day. Her loading delayed, however, she returned to New York City, arriving on 17 March 1943. She ultimately sailed on her maiden transatlantic run on 1 April 1943, departing the United States East Coast with Task Force 69 as it escorted convoy UGS-7, and arriving at its destination, Casablanca, French North Africa, on 19 April 1943. Enoree returned to the United States, via Gibraltar (which she visited on 22-23 April 1943), with convoy GUS-6A, reaching Norfolk on 10 May 1943.