USS Brazos (AO-4)

USS Brazos (AO-4) was a Kanawha-class fleet oiler constructed during World War I, named after the Brazos River in Texas. She was laid down at the Boston Navy Yard, launched on May 1, 1919, and commissioned on October 1 of the same year.

From 1919 to 1941, the Brazos functioned as a tanker within the Scouting Fleet, carrying fuel oil and stores mainly along the eastern coast of the United States and in the Caribbean. Her duties included a temporary assignment with the U.S. Naval Detachment in Turkish waters in 1922, transferring personnel and war dead remains from Marseille to the U.S. She also participated in fleet support in various locations like Hawaii, Samoa, and Australia. Her responsibilities remained consistent during this period, aside from brief times for overhaul and repair.

During the period from 1941 to 1946, Brazos was active in the World War II effort. On December 7, 1941, she was carrying fuel to the Aleutian Islands and Alaska. Her service in this area continued until June 27, 1942, after which she briefly operated near Hawaii and Samoa before returning to the Aleutians until January 27, 1945. Arriving at Okinawa on March 29, 1945, Brazos furnished logistical support for the invasion fleet, with several stops in the southwestern Pacific. She stayed at Okinawa until mid-October, with a brief time at Leyte, Philippine Islands, before departing for Japan to support occupation forces until November 9, 1945.

Brazos returned to San Francisco on November 26, 1945, where she stayed until decommissioned on February 8, 1946. She was transferred to the Maritime Commission on July 1, 1946, and was subsequently scrapped in 1947. Her dedicated service in different capacities illustrates the significant role fleet oilers played in both routine operations and significant combat events throughout her nearly three-decade career.