Truckee AO-147 was laid down in December 1953 at Camden, New Jersey, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation; laaunched on March 19, 1955; Sponsored by Mrs. Murray L. Royer; and commissioned on 18 November 1955, Captain Joseph W. Leverton in Command
In January 1956 Truckee reported for duty with Service Squadron Four, Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VIrginia. The Navy's newest oiler spent February in the Caribbean, and in May carried fresh water, her first cargo, to Bermuda. In June she got underway for her first trans-atlantic voyage, with a group of midshipman embarked for training. She steamed to Copenhagen and through the North Sea, then stopped at Sheerness before she returned to the United States.
On September 19 she departed Norfolk and set her course southward. Throughout October she acted as flagship and supplied fuel and repairs for a hydrographic survey group operating in the vicinity of two South Atlantic Island groups - Ascension Island and Fernando De Norohna. In November she returned to the Virginia Capes and before the years end ranged as far as Portugal serving the fleet.
In 1957 she again plied the waters of the Atlantic and Caribbean. In August she again headed south to operate with the Atlantic Survey and cable group in the mid South Atlantic. In addition to her regular duties, Truckee served as flagship on this operation.
Early 1958 found Truckee again assisting the Survey group in the South Atlantic. She returned to Norfolk in April and prepared for a minor deployment to Eurpoe. Leaving homeport in June, she set sail eastward toward European waters, and stopped at Portugese, Norwegian and British ports before returning to the United States in August. Truckee operated out of Norfolk throughout the remaninder of 1958.
The first few months of 1959 found Truckee continuing operations out of Norfolk, Virginia. In June she took part in refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In August Truckee shifted operations to the North Atlantic to fuel ships providing support for President Eisenhower's air trip to Europe. Late in August she stopped in Greenock, and in September returned home to Norfolk. Truckee was assigned to the Second Fleet for the remainder of the year.
In the summer of 1960, Truckee hosted the midshipmen on their summer cruise. In the fall she steamed northward to take part in NATO exercises in the North Atlantic. In September she steamed across the Artic Circle, then headed southward to warmer climates and welcome Mediterranian Ports. Truckee Spent Christmas and New Years in Cannes, France. She continued her second Med deployment well into 1961. HOME PAGE