USS Abatan ( AW - 4 ) USS " Abatan " ( AW - 4 ) was a " Pasig " - class distilling ship built for the United States Navy during World War II , named for a river located in the southwestern part of Bohol Island in the Philippines . Originally laid down as SS " Mission San Lorenzo " under a 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 , 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 Lieutenant Commander E . Norman Eriksen in command . 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 , Japan capitulated in mid - August . Post - war activities , 1945 – 1946 . The ship sailed for 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 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 Atlantic Fleet in mid - August ; and then proceeded to Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . She arrived there on 20 August and entered a preinactivation availability . 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 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 , 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 . Late in 1979 all desirable equipment was removed from the hull , which was expended as a target on 10 March 1980 approximately west of Guadaloupe Island at 16 N – 62 W .