USS Ponaganset ( AO - 86 ) USS " Ponaganset " AO - 86 / AOG - 86 ) was an " Suamico " - class fleet oiler , of the T2 - SE - A2 tanker hull type , serving in the United States Navy during World War II . Laid down on 27 April 1942 , she was named for the Ponaganset River located in Foster and Glocester , Rhode Island . " Ponaganset " was launched on 10 July 1943 after being built at Marinship , Sausalito , California , under Maritime Commission contract MC 1265 . Sponsored by Mrs . J . W . Fowler , the ship was commissioned by the US Navy on 15 May 1944 , and reported to the Pacific Fleet on 25 June 1944 . Service history . World War II , 1944 – 1946 . After shakedown off the west coast , " Ponaganset " arrived at Pearl Harbor on 17 July , and made a water run to Eniwetok and back before departing again on transporting potable water duties for Guadalcanal , Manus , Kossol , Ulithi , Peleliu , and Saipan , reaching Leyte on 22 March 1945 . The problem of getting fresh water to the smaller ships which did not have distilling apparatus became increasingly acute as the fleet moved westward . Large combatant ships and auxiliaries were ordered to issue water to small craft needing it , but demands could not be met solely in this way . The newly commissioned fleet oilers " Ocklawaha " and " Ponaganset " were used to carry potable water to ships and bases in the forward area . Water was available at a number of points in the South Pacific for the 3rd Fleet , and in the Southwest Pacific for the Morotai " Operation Interlude " forces . It was likewise available on certain harbor craft in the Marshalls . At Manus , where a day , filtered and chlorinated , were available , it could be obtained after 1 September for both 3rd Fleet and Southwest Pacific forces . Besides the shore facilities at Manus , the barges " YO - 186 " , with , and " YW - 90 " , with , were sent to Captain Ogden from Eniwetok late in August . They had been filled from the " Ponaganset " and from surplus in ships returning to Pearl . In the South Pacific area where most of the amphibious forces were serviced , the naval base at Tulagi estimated that , between 15 August and 1 September , of water was supplied to LST s , LCI s , and small craft . No figures are available for Guadalcanal , but that base supplied water in tremendous quantities to the ships and troops which staged in that area . The " Ponaganset " , with of water , reached Eniwetok on 2 August , discharged cargo , and returned to Pearl to reload . With a fresh aboard , she was ordered to Guadalcanal to take part in the logistic preparations of the amphibious forces . From 27 August to 4 September she discharged fresh water to various harbor and patrol craft . In April she carried water to the task force off Okinawa , returning there during each of the next three months while moving around the western Pacific touching at Ulithi , Guam , and Leyte where she was to be found at the war ' s end . She then steamed to Ulithi , the Marianas , and Okinawa , before reaching Wakayama , Japan 26 September . She operated at various Japanese ports until steaming for San Francisco , arriving 5 January 1946 . She then transited the Panama Canal , and arrived 18 February 1946 at her new home yard of New York . 1946 – 1949 . " Ponaganset " decommissioned on 26 April 1946 and was struck from the Navy List on 23 April 1947 . She was returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal at Norfolk on 15 May 1947 . In 1947 " Ponaganset " fractured into two sections while tied at dockside in Boston : On 2 March 1948 the vessel was reacquired by the navy " as is where is " . On 2 June 1948 title was transferred back to the Maritime Commission at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 30 June 1948 . She was sold for scrap to Northern Metal Company on 7 January 1949 . Awards . " Ponaganset " earned two battle star s for World War II service .