USS Saranac (AO-74)

History
United States
Name	USS Saranac
Namesake	Saranac River in New York
Builder	Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania
Laid down	27 August 1942, as SS Cowpens
Launched	21 December 1942
Acquired	31 December 1942
Commissioned	22 February 1943
Decommissioned	19 July 1946
In service	1946
Out of service	1956
Renamed	Saranac, 16 September 1942
Reclassified	YFP-9 (Floating Power Barge), 1 September 1954
Stricken	26 March 1956
Honors and awards	5 battle stars (World War II)
Fate	Sold, 4 December 1957
General characteristics
Type	Suamico-class fleet replenishment oiler
Displacement	5,782 long tons (5,875 t) light 21,880 long tons (22,231 t) full
Length	523 ft 6 in (159.56 m)
Beam	68 ft (21 m)
Draft	30 ft (9.1 m)
Propulsion	Turbo-electric, single screw, 8,000 hp (5,966 kW)
Speed	15.3 knots (28.3 km/h)
Capacity	140,000 barrels (22,000 m3) gasoline
Complement	257
Armament	1 × 5"/38 caliber gun 4 × 3"/50 caliber guns 4 × twin 40 mm AA guns 4 × twin 20 mm AA guns 2 × depth charge projectors

USS Saranac (AO-74), originally named the SS Cowpens, was a Type T2-SE-A1 Suamico-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy, and the fourth ship of the Navy to bear the name.

Laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 337) on 27 August 1942 as Cowpens by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. of Chester, Pennsylvania, the ship was launched on 21 December 1942, sponsored by Mrs. A. Poestrak. She was renamed Saranac on 16 September 1942, acquired by the U.S. Navy on 31 December 1942, and commissioned on 22 February 1943.