USNS Rincon (T-AOG-77)

The USNS Rincon (T-AOG-77) was the lead ship of the Navy’s Rincon-class of gasoline tankers. Although originally intended for the United Kingdom as part of the Lend-Lease program, the end of World War II saw the Rincon enter service with the U.S. military.

The USNS Rincon was built in 1945 by the Todd-Houston Shipbuilding Corporation in Houston, Texas and launched in June of that year. Following her initial shakedown and training cruise, the USNS Rincon began operating with the Army Transportation Service under the designation USAT Rincon. The Rincon continued to operate in this capacity until 1950, when she was acquired by the U.S. Navy for use in the Korean War.

Korean War Service

When the Korean War began in 1950, the U.S. Navy realized they needed a flexible and reliable supply chain in order to keep American units ashore fueled and properly supplied. The Rincon played a vital role in bringing much-needed gasoline to troops on the Korean Peninsula and she spent the entirety of the Korean War in the region.

The Rincon’s primary supply run stemmed from ports in Japan, where she topped off her fuel bunkers, to ports along the Korean Peninsula, including Sasebo and Pusan where she delivered the fuel to Marines and Army units. In recognition of her invaluable service during the Korean War, the U.S. Navy awarded the Rincon and her crew two Korean battle stars.

Service after the Korean War

Following the cessation of hostilities in Korea, the USNS Rincon resumed peacetime operations in the western Pacific, concentrating largely on supply runs between Japan and Korea. In between deployments, the Rincon entered port for periods of routine maintenance and overhaul. These overhauls were essential in order to keep the Rincon operating at peak efficiency, but the invasive metalwork and repairs sometimes resulted in the release of asbestos fibers into the Rincon’s interior. The USNS Rincon continued to serve with the Navy’s Pacific Fleet throughout the 1970s, providing reliable gasoline transportation to all corners of that ocean.

In early 1982, the Rincon’s career with the Navy began to decline. After her last deployment in 1981, the USNS Rincon was prepared for a transfer to the South Korean Navy. This transfer was completed on February 21, 1982 although the Rincon remained on the Naval Register until her ultimate decommissioning on October 23, 1998.

Asbestos Risks

The use of asbestos on ships such as the USNS Rincon has caused thousands of previous shipyard workers and crew members to contract serious lung conditions. Exposure to asbestos has been connected to lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that normally develops in the lining of the lungs. In some circumstances, mesothelioma may develop within the lining of the abdomen or heart.

The most common locations for asbestos exposure on ships included boiler rooms and engine rooms. Other areas aboard naval vessels that exposed workers and crew members to asbestos were asbestos-insulated pipes, walls and ceilings. The slightest disturbance to these materials could have easily caused asbestos fibers to become airborne. If inhaled, those exposed are at serious risk of developing an asbestos-related disease later in life.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have received financial assistance to help cover medical costs, lost income and any other expenses. For more information about compensation and treatment options, please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet.

Sources:

Auxiliary Vessels Index