USS Mettawee
USS Mettawee was a Mettawee-class T1 tanker type gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.
Mettawee was laid down as Clearwater by Marine Maintenance Corp., Bayonne, New Jersey, 13 August 1942; launched 28 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Charles B. Edison; renamed and reclassified Mettawee 25 March 1943; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 5 April 1943; converted by Bethlehem Steel Co., Hoboken, New Jersey; and commissioned 26 August 1943.
World War II service
Following shakedown off Norfolk, Virginia, from 25 September, Mettawee sailed 21 October for New York City to join a convoy for the Panama Canal Zone. She moored at Balboa until departing 3 December for the southwest Pacific Ocean, arriving Bora Bora, Society Islands, the 24th, to load supplies. Mettawee continued on to New Caledonia to debark her cargo after arrival at Nouméa 11 January 1944.She departed 5 February for the New Hebrides, arriving Espiritu Santo 3 days later. From 14 February through April Mettawee served as station tanker off Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands.