The USS Alameda (AO-10) was a civilian tanker built as SS Alameda, launched on 15 July 1919 by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia. As one of four Design 1128 civilian tankers constructed for the United States Shipping Board, she measured 430 feet in overall length, with a beam of 58 feet 2 inches, and a depth of 31 feet 5 inches. Her draft was 25 feet 9 inches, and she had a freeboard of 8 feet. Power was provided by a single triple-expansion steam engine, which generated 565 horsepower, allowing her to reach a top speed of 11 knots. After her completion in 1919, she was transferred to the U.S. Navy and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard as USS Alameda (Fuel Ship No. 10) on the same day. She was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, performing voyages primarily between Port Arthur, Texas, and European ports such as Glasgow, Scotland, supporting U.S. naval operations. Her early service was marked by routine fuel transport missions across the Atlantic. In 1921, Alameda suffered a major fire in her fire room, prompting her crew to abandon the vessel. The ship was subsequently towed into Norfolk and decommissioned in March 1922, then sold to the Newport Engineering Company. Repaired, she entered commercial service as SS Olean in 1925, later operated by the Vacuum Oil Company and Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (later Mobil). During World War II, Olean was equipped with defensive armament and Naval Armed Guards. On 14 March 1942, while sailing unescorted off North Carolina, she was torpedoed twice by U-158, resulting in the loss of six men but leaving the vessel afloat. She was towed to Hampton Roads, declared a total loss, but was repaired and re-engined at Baltimore. Renamed SS Sweep, she was transferred to the Navy in July 1943, and in October, was designated USS Silver Cloud (IX-143). She served as a floating storage tanker in the Pacific, fueling ships at various strategic locations including Manus, Hollandia, and Leyte, until her decommissioning in March 1946. Ultimately sold for scrapping in January 1947, she played a notable role in maritime logistics during both World Wars.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.