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HISTORY OF THE USS NEOSHO AO143
"The Best Damn Oiler in the Navy"
A HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. NEOSHO (AO-143 and USNS NEOSHO T-AO 143) Neosho Class Fleet Oiler
The fourth Neosho was laid down 15 August 1952 by the Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass., named Neosho 29 September 1953, launched 10 November 1953, and commissioned 24 September 1954.
Neosho, first of a class designed to combine speed and large cargo capacity for underway replenishment, reported at Norfolk for duty in the Atlantic Fleet 8 December 1954. A unit of SERVLANT, she operated along the East Coast and in the Caribbean until 7 September 1955, when she got underway for her first Mediterranean deployment. Since that initial deployment, Neosho rotated regularly between the 6th and 2nd Fleets.
By 1967 she had taken part in over 2,500 replenishments to transfer more than 640 million gallons of petroleum products under both normal and crisis operational conditions. In the fall of 1956, during her second 6th Fleet deployment, she supported units of that fleet as they stood by in case they were called on to intervene in the Suez War and the tense period which followed.
In the fall of 1962 she provided logistical support to the ships enforcing the Naval Quarantine of Cuba, and, less than three years later, in 1965, serviced Atlantic Fleet ships as the stood by off Hispanola during the political turmoil festering in the Dominican Republic.
THE END
As calendar year 1978 began, U.S.S. Neosho was in a holiday leave and upkeep period, moored at Naval Station, Norfolk, VA., in a RAV status with Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock, Inc.
The RAV was successful in correcting many long-standing deficiencies in the engineering plant. Additional problems with the low pressure drains occurred on 2 January, but were repaired within two days.
On 5 January a conference was held on board U.S.S. Vulcan (AR-5), commander Service Group Two's flagship, to formulate plans for Neosho's decommissioning and transfer to the Military Sealift Command. With a tentative transfer schedule worked out, attention again shifted to the engineering plant.
With the plant in order, it became possible to operate the ship's generators for the first time in several months. Testing of the generators revealed severe adjustment problems with the governors controlling the steam turbines which powered the generators. Technical representatives from Naval Sea System Command were called in, but they were unable to adjust the governors; without paralleling the generators they would be unable to properly power the ship for underway operations.
After spending most of January trying differing adjustments to the generators and governors, it was decided to send the governors back to the manufacturer for overhaul. During the week of 24 January the governors were removed and sent to the manufacturer's plant.
The tortous rate of progress made with the generators was not indicative of activity elsewhere aboard. On January repairs and tests were completed to rig 11, which had been badly damaged during South American operations in 1977.
By the time February was half over, the generator governors had been returned. After reinstallation, operational testing of the generators began. By the end of the month, the generators had been paralleled and were supporting the ship's electrical load.
With the last major obstacle surmounted, Neosho was ready to go to sea. On 1 March the ship shifted from Norfolk Naval Station to Craney Island Fuel Terminal in order to onload DFM and JP-5.
On 2 March the ship got underway from Craney Island, behind schedule due to problems with the steering gear. Rather than go to sea with unreliable steering, Neosho moored at Norfolk Naval Station until repairs could be effected. Upon correction of the steering problem later that day, the ship sailed on overnight sea trials. No problems were experienced, and Neosho returned to port the next day.
After a weekend in port, Neosho again sailed on 7 March, this time in support of SUBASWEX 3-78. Few underway replenishments were scheduled, and the tedium of the cruise was relieved by a port visit to Bermuda from 22 March to 25 March. On the afternoon of 26 March 1978, Neosho received alongside and refueled her last customer ship as a United States oiler. The distinction went to the U.S.S. Caron (DD 970).
Neosho arrived back in Norfolk on 28 March, and anchored in an ammunition anchorage. Preparations for decommissioning and transfer to the Military Sealift Command went into full swing the next day when all ammunition and pyrotechnics remaining on board were off-loaded onto barges from the ammunition depot at Yorktown. On 30 March, the ship weighed anchor and moved to the Craney Island Fuel Terminal.
Off-loading of cargo fuel was begun on 3 April, almost immediately, unfortunately problems developed. Many of the liquid cargo valves, which had not received maintenance since the last overhaul in 1970, would not seal properly, and it became necessary to use air-powered pumps to empty several of the tanks. On 7 April, tank mucking (a process of shovelling and wiping up the sludge at the bottom of the tank) commenced with a JP-5 tank.
By 10 April tank mucking had begun in earnest, but was nearly a week behind schedule. However, by utilizing all available personnel and by using firehoses to wash sludge into pockets where it could be pumped out, the men in the tanks made up the lost time and finished all mucking on time on 18 April. On 19 April Neosho shifted berths back to Norfolk Naval Station. The next day an independent industrial chemist inspected the ship and found her not to be gas-free as required. On 21 April fuel lines and hoses which contained fuel fumes were flushed with water, and several tanks were prepared for recleaning.
While attempts to gas-free the ship continued, Military Sealift Command sent representatives to the ship to thoroughly load test all replenishment rigging. On 24 Arpil mount 31 was removed from the ship, followed by mount 36 the next day, thereby achieving a major step in the demilitarization.
During the week of 1 May 1978, representatives of the Naval Air Engineering Center at Lakehurst, New Jersey inspected the ship's helicopter facility in order to determine what work needed to be done during the upcoming overhaul and conversion.
Meanwhile, the continuing attempts to certify the ship as gas-free, "safe for hot work," were meeting with little success and it was decided that a return to Craney Island was necessary in order to thoroughly complete the process. The ship proceeded to Craney Island on the morning of 5 May, and work begun immediately. By this time, many of Neosho's crewmen had been transferred in anticipation of de-commissioning, so the work which fell to those who remained aboard required an all-out, all hands effort.
The crew responded to the challenge and after much hard work, the ship was certified gas-free to the satisfaction of the Military Sealift Command, and sailed for Bayonne, New Jersey on the morning of 17 May. Throughout the period at Craney Island, decommissioning preparations continued, and large quantities of material which would not be required by MSC were transferred. Upon arrival in Bayonne on 18 May, the major work project became the preparation of the ship for the turnover ceremony scheduled for 25 May.
Since the period originally allocated for this purpose had been absorbed by the additional unscheduled tank cleaning efforts, all hands were again called upon to assist in the difficult task of repairing the ship for the ceremony in the less than a weeks' time. The response was as had come to be expected from the Neosho crew and on 25 May, the ship stood sharp in appearance and ready to assume her new role.
The turnover ceremony commenced at 1400 local time on 25 May 1978, and less than an hour later, the U.S. Neosho ceased to be an active commissioned ship of the United States Navy. In her place stood the United States Naval Ship Neosho, in service rather than in commission under her new merchant marine master, but nevertheless expected to return to the fleet after her conversion to pick up and carry on the proud tradition established by her United States predecessor.
--- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships with thanks to the Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
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HISTORY OF THE USS NEOSHO AO48
USS NEOSHO AO48
A HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. NEOSHO (AO-48)
Kennebec Class Fleet Oiler
Displacement 21,077
Length 502'
Beam 58'
Draft 31'
Speed 17 Knots
Armament 1 5"/38DP , 4 3"/50DP 4x2 40mm 4x2 20mm
Crew 243
Power 12,000 HP
Maritime Commission T2 (MC-SO)
The third NEOSHO(AO-48) was laid down as SS Catawba, 8 july 1941, by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard Inc.Sparrows Point Maryland, for the Socony Vacum Company. She was launched on the 23rd of December 1941. She was sponsored by Mrs Wilbur F. Burt. On July 1942 she was aquired by the Navy and renamed Neosho in San Francisco. Starting on August 4th 1942 she was converted by the Bethlehem Steel Company and was commissioned 16 September 1942 wit.h Commander .Frank L. Worden as commanding Officer.
Neosho had a cargo capacity of 134,000 barrels and started her duties supplying her oilwhich was the life blood of the fleet. She was attached to ServRon 8 where she worked off the west coast and also to Hawaii delivering her cargo where needed. On 3 December she was sent to Samoa and then on to Suva and Espiritu Santo working with the fleet supplying them with fuel. On march 26th 1943 she was sent to San Pedro for repair.
On April 28 the Neosho left California for Dutch Harbor Alaska.After reaching Dutch Harbor on May 5th she laid over until the next day and sailed for Adak where she operated through the Aleutian Campaign. Following that campaign she returned to the South Pacific. Leaveing Pearl Harbor on November 10th with TF 50 they were enroute to refuel and replenish TG 50.2 and 50.3 for the invaison of the Gilbert Ilands.After the bloody and successful landings there , she joined Task Unit 16.10.11 to refuel TF 53 as they were steaming enroute to there next engagement,the Marshall Islands.
By February 6th Majuro had been secured and set up as base of operations for Neosho.From the operatios base Neosho sailed to fuel and provision the ships at sea so strikes can be carried out against Hollandis.The Western Carolines fell next and Ulithi became the base of operations for Neosho. From Ulithi she sailed in support of the ships of TF 50 & 58 which helped secure the Marianas and stopped the enemy from bringing in supplies and reinforcements.This was done by shutting off the sea lanes and aerial lanes to the enemy strong holds on the islands where they had dug in for a long fight.
Neosho arrived in Manus where she supplied the fleet as land forces secured the sothern Palaus and invaded the Philippines at Leyte.In December she refueled and provisioned the carrier forces in the China Sea and the Western Pacific as the forces hit the Japanese positions. They also hit the shipping on and along mainland in the Central and Northern Phillippines, Formosa,and in Ryukus to stop reinforcements from reaching the Mindoro and Luzon Japanese forces.
Neosho supported TF 58 during the Iwo Jima campaign and then she returned to San Pedro for overhaul.After being equipped with new surface radar and radar controlled guns she left for Ulithi where she transported fuel to and refueled the ships at sea off Okniwa until the war ended on 15 August 1945.
Neosho was ordered back to the United States in October 1945 and reported to COM 5 for inactivation. She was Decommissioned on 13 December 1945 and was struck from the Navy Register on January 3rd 1946. After this time she was turned over to the Maritime Commission for Disposal on June 30th 1946. Neosho was sold and renamed Tuscaloosa and continued service until she was declared unfit for further service and was scrapped.
NEOSHO EARNED 13 BATTLE STARS FOR WORLD WAR II SERVICE.
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HISTORY OF THE USS NEOSHO AO23
A HISTORY OF THE USS NEOSHO AO-23
Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
Displacement: 24,830 tons
Length: 553'
Beam: 75'
Draft: 32'
Speed: 18 knots
Armament: 4 5"/38 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x2 20mm
Complement: 304
Capacity: 146,000 barrels
Geared turbines engines, twin screws, 30,400 hp
Maritime Commission T3-S2-A1 type
Built at Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., and commissioned 7 August 1939
: 7 May 42; damaged by air attacks at Battle of Coral Sea; scuttled by torpedoes and gunfire from Henley (DD-391) on 11 May 42
PEARL HARBOR
AO23/A12-1
Serial 711 U.S.S. NEOSHO
December 11, 1941.
From: The Commanding Officer.
To: The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Subject: Raid on Pearl Harbor, T.H., December 7, 1941 - Report on Reference: (a) Your 102102.
In accordance with reference (a) the following report is submitted: At 0755, December 7, 1941, the U.S.S.Neosho was moored, starboard side to, in Berth F-4, Naval Air Station, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, T.H., having just finished delivering aviation gasoline.
About 0758 Japanese dive bomber planes were observed bombing the Naval Air Station. General Quarters was sounded at 0800 and the battery of three 3"-23 caliber A.A. and one 5"-51 caliber guns was manned immediately and ordered to open fire and fire at will as enemy targets came in range. no fifty caliber Machine Guns were used as they had not been received on board. Opened fire on Japanese planes at 0805 when in range. Fuses were set on firing against dive bombers (3.2 sec.). Immediate preparations for getting underway was ordered. Underway at 0842 after chopping lines to bollards on piles off each end of dock as no assistance was available for casting them off. In backing away from the dock the Neosho barely cleared the USS Oklahoma which had capsized t port. Proceeding during the third wave of the attack to Berth M-3, Merry Point engaging the enemy enroute as opportunity presented. At 0930 moored in berth M-3, astern the USS Castor to await instructions from Commander Base Force, Neosho having gotten underway from Berth F-4 without orders in order to clear the way for the USS Maryland in the event that the latter desired to move. At 1136 discontinued firing, enemy having retired. Expended 171 rounds of 3"-23 caliber A.A.
At 0912 Neosho hit enemy plane which is believed to have crashed since it disappeared from view in an obvious side slip at low altitude. At least two enemy torpedo planes were observed headed directly towards this ship while underway with apparent object of battleships a targets. it is believed that our fire deflected, or at least forced these planes away from their objectives for they were seen tot change course radically to the right without dropping their torpedoes. Own damage - None, although several bombs fell close to the stern jarring the ship appreciably, but no leakage has been noted.
The conduct of the officers and men attached to the USS Neosho and that of the passengers on board for transportation from, and to, the United States was outstanding and worthy of highest praise. It is a matter of interest that (37.5%) of the men attached to this ship have come from the Training Station within the past nine months, and that all the gunnery personnel are stationed in exposed positions. The Gunnery discipline of the battery was excellent, as was the discipline of the ship control, repair parties, and Engineering personnel.
[signed]
JOHN S. PHILLIPS
© LeRoy Deely Pearce
The Franklin County Veterans Memorial
" Another Seaton Family Website "
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST USS NEOSHO (Iron Clad)
USS Neosho (1863-1873).
Later renamed Vixen and Osceola
USS Neosho, first of a class of two 523-ton single-turret ironclad river monitors built at Carondelet, Missouri, was commissioned in May 1863. She operated on the Mississippi River and its tributaries through the rest of the Civil War, and was one of several ironclads that took part in the Red River campaign in March-May 1864. She also engaged Confederate shore batteries near Simmsport, Louisiana, in June 1864 and on the Cumberland River, in Tennessee, in December of that year. Neosho was decommissioned in July 1865 and laid up at Mound City, Illinois. In 1869, she was twice renamed, becoming Vixen in June and Osceola in August. She was sold in August 1873.
This page features our only views of USS Neosho.
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Description of Product
Detailed description of a product. This description could include: Basic information about the line of products and any information that you might use to describe your product. $ 19.95 |
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GO NAVY
JOIN THE NAVY AND SEE THE WORLD |
VIETNAM VETERAN
GOD BLESS THE USA AND ALL THE VETERANS WHO HAVE KEPT HER FREE
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PROUD TO BE A AMERICAN
THANK "GOD" FOR WATCHING OVER US |
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VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
PROUD TO BE A VIETNAM VETERAN
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