USS Kern

History
United States
Name	USS Kern
Namesake	Kern River in California
Ordered	as Rappahannock T1-MT-M1 tanker hull
Builder	Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down	25 May 1942
Launched	7 September 1942
Commissioned	as USS Kern (AOG-2), 9 March 1943
Decommissioned	6 August 1946
In service	to MSTS as USNS Kern (T-AOG-2), 1 July 1950
Out of service	1 October 1957
Stricken	10 April 1958
Fate	Disposed of by Scrapping, National Metal & Steel, Terminal Island, Ca 2 December 1975
General characteristics
Class and type	Patapsco-class gasoline tanker
Tonnage	2,210 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement	1,850 long tons (1,880 t) light 4,130 long tons (4,200 t) full load
Length	310 ft 9 in (94.72 m)
Beam	48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Draft	15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Installed power	3,300 hp (2,500 kW)
Propulsion	4 × General Electric diesel-electric engines, 2 × shafts
Speed	15.5 kn (17.8 mph; 28.7 km/h)
Complement	131
Armament	4 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal dual purpose guns, 12 × 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons

USS Kern (AOG-2) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

Kern was laid as Rappahannock by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington on 25 May 1942; renamed Kern on 18 July 1942; launched on 7 September 1942; sponsored by Mrs. L. A. Oldin; and commissioned at Seattle, Washington on 9 March 1943.