USS Niobrara
Appearance
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | USS Niobrara |
Namesake | Niobrara River |
Builder | Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard |
Laid down | 29 June 1942 |
Launched | 28 November 1942 |
Acquired | 13 March 1943 |
Commissioned | 13 March 1943 |
Decommissioned | 24 September 1946 |
Recommissioned | 5 February 1951 |
Decommissioned | 30 November 1954 |
Recommissioned | 14 December 1956 |
Decommissioned | 12 November 1957 |
Stricken | 1 February 1959 |
Honors and awards | 4 battle stars (World War II) |
Fate | Sold for scrap, 22 March 1982 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Chiwawa class oiler |
Type | MARAD T3-S-A1 |
Tonnage | 16,543 DWT |
Displacement | 21,077 tons |
Length | 501 ft 7.75 in (152.9017 m) |
Beam | 68 ft (21 m) |
Draft | 29 ft 10.5 in (9.106 m) |
Depth | 37 ft (11 m) |
Installed power | 7,000 shp (5,200 kW) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 15.3 knots (28.3 km/h) |
Range | 14,500 nmi (26,900 km; 16,700 mi) |
Capacity | 133,800 bbl (~18,250 t) |
Complement | 247 |
Armament |
|
USS Niobrara (AO-72) was a
oiler constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the Niobrara River in Nebraska
.
The ship was laid down on 29 June 1942 by
Maritime Commission
contract (MC hull 520). Launched on 28 November 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Mark O'Dea, she was acquired by the Navy and commissioned as USS Niobrara on 13 March 1943.
Service history
World War II, 1943–1945
Marianas
invasions begun in June 1944.
Niobrara served as station tanker at
Palaus, to serve as station tanker for smaller combatants patrolling during the assault and occupation of the Palaus, then for forces preparing for the return to the Philippines. On 8 January 1945, she herself proceeded to Leyte, then into the South China Sea to fuel task force TF 38, then attacking the China
coast.
During the next two months, she served at
Okinawa campaign. She sailed 26 March from Ulithi for Okinawa, and after refueling 5th Fleet striking units at sea, closed Hagushi Beach on 5 April to fuel radar picket destroyers. Air and submarine alerts, as well as gunfire close ashore, required expert seamanship
to refuel ships alongside while maneuvering to protect the ship. She continued to support ships patrolling off Okinawa and carrier striking forces until the end of the war.
Post-war activities, 1945–1946
Niobrara entered Tokyo Bay on 30 August to witness the surrender, and after three months' occupation duty, sailed for Guam, where she aided in salvage work. On 10 December she sailed for the Panama Canal and the east coast, along which she operated until decommissioning on 24 September 1946.
Atlantic Fleet, 1951–1954
She lay in reserve at
San Diego, California
, to join the Pacific Fleet's operations until decommissioning on 30 November 1954.
Pacific Fleet, 1956–1957
She recommissioned at
San Francisco, California, on 14 December 1956 and again served in the Pacific Fleet until sailing to Galveston, Texas
, where she decommissioned on 12 November 1957.
In reserve and disposal
She transferred to the
MARAD (Trade-in-exchange) on 22 March 1982, and then scrapped in Germany
.
Awards
Niobrara received 4
battle stars for World War II
service.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Photo gallery of Niobrara at NavSource Naval History
- Wildenberg, Thomas (1996). Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy, 1912-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. Retrieved 2009-04-28.