USS Chemung ( AO - 30 ) USS " Chemung " ( AO - 30 ) , a " Cimarron " - class fleet replenishment oiler serving in the United States Navy , was the second ship named for the Chemung River in New York State . " Chemung " was launched 9 September 1939 as Esso Annapolis by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard , Sparrows Point , Maryland , under a Maritime Commission contract ; sponsored by Miss Howard ; acquired by the Navy 5 June 1941 ; and commissioned 3 July 1941 , Commander E . T . Spellman in command . From 13 July 1941 until the entry of the United States into World War II , " Chemung " operated between east coast ports and the oil ports of Texas and Louisiana transporting fuel oil . World War II . From 20 December 1941 to 3 January 1942 she issued fuel at NS Argentia , Newfoundland . Reloading at Norfolk , Virginia , she steamed to Hvalfjörður , Iceland carrying fuel ( 19 February — 25 March ) , then operated between Norfolk and ports in the Gulf of Mexico from 1 April to 16 May . Following another tour as fuel station ship at Hvalfjörður ( 30 May - 26 June ) , " Chemung " departed from New York City 20 August with a convoy bound for the United Kingdom . Two days later collided with her at night . The destroyer sank almost immediately when the depth charge s on her stern exploded . " Chemung " , although heavily damaged by the explosion and resulting fires , reached Boston , Massachusetts 26 August for repairs . Steaming 1 October 1942 to Beaumont , Texas , to load fuel , " Chemung " accompanied the North Africa n assault force to sea , remained off the coast during the landings , then returned to Norfolk 30 November to resume coastwise fuel runs . From 15 February 1943 to 11 June 1945 " Chemung " alternated five convoy voyages to United Kingdom ports and five to North Africa with coast - wise and Caribbean cargo duty and station duty at Bermuda and in the Azores . Post - war service . An assignment to occupation duty in the Far East found " Chemung " circumnavigating the globe as she cleared Norfolk 18 July 1945 , passed through the Panama Canal for service at Okinawa 17 September to 13 October , and returned by way of the Cape of Good Hope to Norfolk 6 December . She operated with the US Atlantic Fleet , serving the US 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean ( 12 November 1948 — 1 April 1949 ) , until 17 March 1950 , when she sailed for San Diego , where she was decommissioned and placed in reserve 3 July 1950 . Recommissioned 1 December 1950 , " Chemung " steamed to the Far East 28 January 1951 for a brief tour refueling forces engaged in the Korean War . During her second tour of duty ( 7 July 1951 — 20 April 1952 ) , she supported United Nations troops in Korea , served on the Formosa Patrol , then transported oil from Ras Tanura , Arabia , to Guam . She again sailed from San Pedro 24 June 1952 to support the US 7th Fleet off Korea until returning to Mare Island for overhaul on 24 February . In nine succeeding tours of duty in the Western Pacific from her home port at San Pedro California between 1953 and 1960 , " Chemung " supported many of the 7th Fleet ' s most notable contributions to the keeping of peace in the Far East . During her 1954 — 1955 tour she provided fuel for the ships carrying out the evacuation of the Tachen Islands . During each of the tours she has served as station tanker at Kaohsiung , Taiwan , fueling the ships of the Taiwan Patrol . " Chemung " served through the 1960s , including service in support of the Vietnam War , until she was decommissioned on 18 September 1970 . She was transferred to the Maritime Administration and ultimately scrapped . " Chemung " received two battle star s for World War II service , and four for service in the Korean War .