USS Caliente (AO-53) - Sinking of The Mississinewa

Sinking of The Mississinewa

On 20 November, after loading 97,975 barrels of black oil from SS Mission San Carlos, as well as a full load of avgas, diesel, and cargo oil, Caliente lay at anchor awaiting a destination. Ulithi, a regulating station of the Logistics Division, Pacific Fleet, had been deemed safe from enemy interference yet close enough to serve as a transshipment point for the forward operating areas. But on 20 November the Japanese struck at this logistical lifeline. At 0547 hours the oiler Mississinewa, a sister ship of Caliente, was hit by a kaiten, a Japanese manned torpedo, and burst into flames. Caliente and the other oilers, to protect their volatile cargo, steamed out of the harbor. While at least three of the attackers were sunk the Mississinewa, having just loaded 107,000 barrels of fuel in her hold, exploded and sank, killing 60 of her crew.