World War II, 1943–1946 From 15 June 1943 to 1 March 1944,
Cowanesque carried gasoline from the Texas oil ports to east coast bases. She departed
Norfolk on 4 March on the first of two convoy voyage to
Casablanca and
Mers El Kébir. Sailing from Norfolk on 14 July, she arrived at
Oran on 30 July and remained at Mers El Kébir until 4 September, fueling United States and Allied shipping. She returned to Norfolk on 19 September.
Cowanesque put to sea from Norfolk on 22 October 1944 and arrived at
Pearl Harbor on 28 November. She continued to the forward area calling at
Eniwetok,
Ulithi, and
Hollandia, and arrived in
San Pedro Bay, Philippines, on 1 January 1945 to fuel units of the
7th Fleet. The next day her task group underwent a severe air attack.
Cowanesque fired at several planes and shot down at least two before a single-engine fighter crashed into her port side and disintegrated violently (believed to be a kamikaze attack), spreading burning
gasoline over the deck.
Damage control parties dumped the unexploded bomb from the plane over the side, brought the fires under control and repaired the damage enabling
Cowanesque to continue her mission. Her casualties were two dead, two wounded.
Cowanesque fueled ships at
Mindoro,
Lingayen Gulf, and San Pedro Bay until 25 February when she sailed for Ulithi. From 19 March to 4 July 1945
Cowanesque operated out of Ulithi refueling ships of the
5th Fleet at sea in support of the
Iwo Jima and
Okinawa operations. She reported to Okinawa on 8 July for convoy duty between that island and Ulithi until the end of the war, and continued to base on Okinawa as she supported the occupation. Among her duties was refueling ships sweeping mines in the
Yellow Sea. On 28 October, she sailed for San Francisco, arriving on 15 November.
Cowanesque was placed out of commission 30 January 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission.
1948–1972 Reacquired by the Navy, and reinstated on the
Naval Vessel Register, on 18 January 1948, she served with the Naval Transportation Service as
Cowanesque (AO-79). Transferred to the
Military Sea Transportation Service on 1 October 1949, the ship was placed in service in noncommissioned status as '
USNS Cowanesque
(T-AO-79)' on 18 July 1950. She was reclassified as Transport Oiler (T-AOT-79) (date unknown). The ship was sunk off Okinawa on 23 April 1972. ==Awards==