USS Lackawanna ( AO - 40 ) USS " Lackawanna " ( AO - 40 ) was a " Kennebec " - class type T2 fleet oiler of the United States Navy . The ship was laid down 27 December 1941 , as SS " Conastoga " ( hull number 4359 ) , by the Bethlehem - Sparrows Point Shipyard Inc . , Sparrows Point , Maryland , under Maritime Commission contract number 147 . Launched on 16 May 1942 , sponsored by Mrs . S . J . Dickey , acquired by the Navy on 20 June 1942 , and commissioned on 10 July 1942 at Baltimore , Lt . Comdr . S . R . Sands , Jr . , USCG , in command . Service history . 1942 – 1943 . After shakedown " Lackawanna " departed Norfolk , Virginia , on 15 August 1942 bound for fueling operations in the Pacific . Arriving at New Caledonia on 18 September , the oiler replenished ships out of Nouméa for the next three months . Following overhaul at San Pedro , California , " Lackawanna " resumed operations as a unit of ServRon 8 in the Central Pacific on 16 February 1943 . The oiler replenished fighting ships for eight months prior to sailing in support of the Gilbert Islands invasion during November . The allied objective of this campaign was to neutralize the threat of Japanese air and seaplane bases on the islands . 1944 – 1946 . " Lackawanna " s next mission was to refuel units engaged in the invasion of Kwajalein and Majuro . Departing Espiritu Santo on 20 January 1944 , she continued support missions in the Marshalls through March . Turning her attention to the removal of other barriers " on the road to Japan , " " Lackawanna " refueled the carrier task forces as they unleashed their devastating raids on Palau , Yap , and Truk during April and May . As expanding operations established the need for additional staging areas , the fleet prepared for the invasion of the Marianas . On 15 June amphibious assault forces landed on Saipan , and once again the lifeline of the fleet was on hand to refuel the thirsty ships . When Saipan , Tinian , and Guam fell into American control , the stage was get for the return to the Philippines . The need for advance bases necessitated the invasion of the Palaus , and " Lackawanna " supported the 3rd Fleet in this operation . With preliminaries complete , the oiler departed Seeadler Harbor in mid - October bound for a refueling area off the Philippines . Providing replenishment services for almost two months , she played a vital role in the successful Philippine campaign . " Lackawanna " took departure from Ulithi on 10 December for a brief repair period at San Pedro , California . Returning to the war zone on 6 March , she arrived in time to participate in the largest operation of the Pacific war — Okinawa . Departing Ulithi on 13 March , " Lackawanna " supported units of the fleet as they made their way to Japan ' s last stronghold . She continued operations off Okinawa until the island was secure in late June . With Japan itself the only remaining target , " Lackawanna " sailed on 3 July to refuel the 3rd Fleet units engaged in raids on the enemy homeland . Following the cessation of hostilities on 14 August , the oiler continued operations in the Far East until she departed Tokyo Bay on 12 October . Arriving at San Francisco two weeks later , " Lackawanna " remained on the west coast until she decommissioned at Oakland on 14 February 1946 . Decommissioning and sale . " Lackawanna " was returned to the Maritime Commission on 1 July 1946 . Subsequently sold to the Socony - Vacuum Oil Company ( later renamed Mobil Oil ) in 1947 , she was renamed SS " Tatarrax " , then " Thomas A . " ( 1962 ) , and " Padre Island " ( 1965 ) . The ship was scrapped in Vinaròs , Spain , in January 1967 .