USS Mississinewa, a 25,425 ton Cimarron class oiler, was built at Sparrows Point, Maryland. Commissioned in May 1944, she picked up her first cargo at Aruba, Dutch West Indies in June and steamed to the Pacific. Upon arrival in the Central Pacific, she began providing fuel and supplies to Third Fleet ships, continuing to do so during raids on Japanese bases and the campaigns to capture the Palaus and Leyte. On the morning of 20 November 1944, while at Ulithi anchorage, Caroline Islands, with a full cargo of fuel oil and aviation gasoline, she was hit by a Japanese "Kaiten" human torpedo, one of five launched from the submarines I-36 and I-47. USS Mississinewa burned, exploded and sank, the first victim of this newly-introduced Japanese suicide weapon.
This page features all our views of USS Mississinewa (AO-59), including photographs related to her loss.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
The following photographs were taken (or appear to have been taken) at the time of USS Mississinewa's loss:
Photo #: 80-G-270753 USS Mississinewa (AO-59) Burning and sinking at Ulithi Atoll on 20 November 1944, after she was hit by a Japanese "Kaiten" human torpedo. A small aircraft carrier (CVL) is anchored in the foreground. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 59KB; 620 x 675 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-K-5510 (Color) USS Mississinewa (AO-59) Sinking at Ulithi, 20 November 1944. The capsized ship's bottom can be seen at the base of the flames, with bow or stern toward the left. NOTE: Identification provided above is provisional. The original caption reads: " Casualty at Iwo Jima -- While the battle raged ashore, a U.S. Tanker goes up in flame and smoke as the result of enemy action." The identity of this ship, if lost at Iwo Jima, is unknown. However, the circumstances seen in the photo appear to be correct for the loss of USS Mississinewa. The presence of many anchored cargo ships and oilers, plus the several fleet tugs and salvage ships, looks more like Ulithi than Iwo Jima. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 560 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 97981 USS Mississinewa (AO-59) Sinking in Ulithi anchorage after she was hit by a Japanese suicide torpedo, 20 November 1944. Photographed by Storekeeper 1st Class Simon ("Sid") Harris, from on board USS Munsee (ATF-107). The original photograph was received from USS Ajax (AR-6) in 1987. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 90KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-270650 Loss of USS Mississinewa, 20 November 1944 A destroyer-escort (DE) dropping depth charges while searching for Japanese submarines in Ulithi anchorage on 20 November 1944, following the sinking of USS Mississinewa (AO-59). A Fletcher class destroyer is steaming past in the foreground. Two light cruisers (CL) and several other ships are in the distance. Photographed from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 500 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-270659 Loss of USS Mississinewa, 20 November 1944 A destroyer-escort (DE) drops depth charges while searching for Japanese submarines in Ulithi anchorage on 20 November 1944, following the sinking of USS Mississinewa (AO-59). A Cleveland class light cruiser (CL) and other ships are in the distance. Photographed from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-270656 Loss of USS Mississinewa, 20 November 1944 Destroyer-escorts (DE) drop depth charges during the search for Japanese submarines in Ulithi anchorage, following the sinking of USS Mississinewa (AO-59), 20 November 1944. A Fletcher class destroyer is in the left-center background, and an anti-submarine net is in the distance. Photographed from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Mississinewa (AO-59), taken when she was first completed and during her brief service in the Pacific. The following list features some of these images:
The images listed below are NOT in
the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.".
USS Mississinewa (AO-59) anchored in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia, 25 May 1944. Port broadside low aerial view, taken from a Naval Air Station Hampton Roads aircraft flying at 300' altitude. USS Mississinewa (AO-59) anchored in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia, 25 May 1944. Bow-on aerial view, taken from a NAS Hampton Roads aircraft flying at 300' altitude. USS Mississinewa (AO-59) anchored in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia, 25 May 1944. Port quarter aerial view, very tight on the stern, taken from a NAS Hampton Roads aircraft flying at 300' altitude. USS Mississinewa (AO-59) anchored in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia, 25 May 1944. Port quarter aerial view, taken from a NAS Hampton Roads aircraft flying at 300' altitude. USS Mississinewa (AO-59) anchored in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia, 25 May 1944. Starboard broadside aerial view, shot from somewhat toward the stern. Taken from a NAS Hampton Roads aircraft flying at 300' altitude.
USS Mississinewa (AO-59) steaming alongside USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), 24 September 1944. Port quarter surface view, fairly tight on the stern, taken from Sargent Bay as she approached Mississinewa to refuel. The original photo caption describes this as a "Record refueling at sea".
The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.". |
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 28 May 2000
Photo caption corrected 25 February 2004