U.S.S. Patoka (AO-9)
This unusual naval vessel played an interesting role in the
development of rigid airship operations conducted by the U.S. Navy. Launched 26, July
1919, as a fleet oiler, the Patoka (named for a river in Indiana) served in
the fleet until refitted in 1924 as a floating mooring mast and support ship
for fleet operations involving the naval airships.
Patoka's mooring mast
A mooring mast 125 feet high was mounted on the stern of the ship. Facilities for helium storage, fuel, and other necessary supplies to support the airship were built as well. Accommodations for both airship crews and the men who handled and supplied the airship were also added.
The ship was recommissioned July 1, 1924 as U.S.S. Patoka (AV-6), with her new designation as Aircraft Tender. The Patoka rejoined the Atlantic fleet and participated in a series of mooring experiments with the U.S.S. Shenandoah (ZR-1) which had reported for Commander Scouting Fleet duty on August 1, 1924. The first successful mooring was made on August 8, 1924.
Aerial view of Shenandoah secured to mast of Patoka, August 1924
Between October 12th to 15th of the same year, The Patoka (together with U.S.S. Milwaukee and U.S.S. Detroit), was assigned a station mid-Atlantic to support a successful ocean crossing of the navy's second rigid airship, U.S.S. Los Angeles (ZR-3) which had been built in Germany and which was being delivered to the Lakehurst, New Jersey.
During 1925, Patoka operated with both the Shenandoah and the Los
Angeles in demonstrating the mobility of airships, and in reducing the number of ground
personnel required to handle them. A projected polar flight by Shenandoah, using
Patoka as her base of operations was cancelled when the airship was lost in a storm over
southern Ohio on September 3, 1925.
Views of Shenandoah secured at mast of Patoka, August 1924
Between 1925 and 1932 Patoka operated with Los Angeles and served as base of supply and operations on the airship's long-range flights to Puerto Rico (1925), Panama (1928), Florida (1929), and during the fleet concentration off Panama (1931). During 1932 Patoka also operated with the newly acquired airship U.S.S. Akron (ZR-4), but the decommissioning of U.S.S. Los Angeles on June 30, 1932 foretold the end of Patoka's days as airship tender. She was decommissioned on August 31, 1933.
Shenandoah leaving Patoka's mast
On November 10, 1939 U.S.S. Patoka was refitted and recommissioned yet again, this time her role was that of seaplane tender; a role which she performed until finally struck from the Naval List of ships on July 31, 1946. She was sold for scrap in March of 1948.
A Photo Gallery of the Patoka is available
HERE.
