From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

A river in Arkansas.

dr. 30'10" s. 15 k. cpl. 229 a. 1 x 5", 4 x 3"

cl. Suamico

Cossatot (AO-77) was launched as Fort Necessity 28 February 1943 by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pa., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. W. Taylor; acquired by the Navy 17 March 1943; and commissioned 20 April 1943, Commander P. G. Beck, USNR, in command.

Sailing from Norfolk to Baytown, Tex., to load kerosene, gasoline, and fuel oil in July 1943,Cossatot sailed from Norfolk 6 August to fuel convoy escorts during their passage to Casablanca, returning to Norfolk 14 September. She made seven such voyages from Norfolk to the North African ports of Casablanca, Oran, and Bizerte between 4 October 1943 and 30 November 1944.

Cossatot put to sea from Norfolk again 28 December 1944, bound for the Pacific. She loaded diesel oil, fuel oil, and gasoline at Aruba, Netherlands West Indies, and arrived at Pearl Harbor 20 January 1945. She operated from Saipan from 12 February fueling ships of the 5th Fleet until 3 March, when she began operations from Ulithi.Cossatot sortied as a part of TG 50.8, the logistics group for the 5th Fleet, for operations off Iwo Jima from 13 March to 12 April. On 16 April she sailed with her group to conduct fueling operations off newly assaulted Okinawa. On 28 April she splashed a suicide plane as it dove toward her, and remained on this duty unscathed until 4 May when she arrived at Ulithi to reload. From 25 May until the end of the war Cossatot operated out of Ulithi fueling various units of fast carrier TF 38, engaged in the final strikes against the Japanese homeland.

Cossatot left Ulithi 3 September for Okinawa and Sasebo, arriving 21 September to fuel ships of the occupation force. On 12 November she sailed from Yokosuka for San Francisco, arriving 25 November. Cossatot was placed out of commission in reserve 7 March 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission 28 October 1946. Reacquired in February 1948, she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service 1 October 1949 where she has served in a noncommissioned status under the Maritime Administration.

Cossatot received two battle stars for World War II service.