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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Lost due to enemy action, 23 January 1942

USS Neches (AO-5)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 23 January 1942) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Individual Awards

Purple Heart (57 KIA, 23 January 1942)

Maumee Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 8 June 1919, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.

Launched, 2 June 1920

Commissioned USS Neches (AO-5), 25 October 1920, CDR. H. T. Meriwether, USNRF, in command

Lost to enemy action, 23 January 1942, with the loss of 57 men. Torpedoed by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-172 at 42° 01N 160° 06W. ,

Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)

USS Neches earned one battle star for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 5,400 t.(lt) 14,800 t.(fl)
Length 475' 1"
Beam 56' 2"
Draft 26' 8"
Speed 14.3 kts.

Cargo Capacity 7,843 tons fuel oil
Complement 136
Armament

Original configuration - four single 5"/51 caliber low angle guns (two side by side on the forecastle and two side by side on the stern, two single 3" antiaircraft guns atop the cargo tank deck amidships

World War II upgrade additions - two 3" AA guns, four .50 cal. MGs
Propulsion four Ward boilers, two vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engines, twin screws, 6,080shp

Size	Image Description	Source
94k	Neches (Fuel Ship # 5) launching at Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA., 2 June 1920. *Neches* is in the center of the image. The U.S. Army Transport USAT George Washington is at right, and *USS New Jersey* (Battleship # 16) is at left. Note the crowd of onlookers on the ships, piers and buildings flanking Neches*, and the large number of double-ended lifeboats in the right foreground. Panoramic photo by the Chester Photo Service, 39 Court Street, Boston, MA. US Navy photo # NH 105178* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	Michael Mohl
139k	Neches (AO-5) transiting the Panama Canal, date unknown. US Navy photo	.
277k	*USS Neches* (AO-5)** underway, circa 1920s, location unknown.	James Gholson for his father James Everett Gholson SC3/c USS Neches
67k	*USS Neches* (AO-5)** at anchor, circa 1920s, location unknown. US Navy photo	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
84k	*USS Neches* (AO-5)** transiting the Panama Canal, date unknown. US Navy photo	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII Web Site
93k	*USS Neches* (AO-5)** underway in New York harbor, date unknown.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII Web Site
46k	*USS Neches* (AO-5) refueling USS Sands (DD-243)**, date and location unknown.	Hyperwar US navy in WWII Web Site
42k	*USS Neches* (AO-5)** departing Mare Island Navy Yard, 29 August 1941 enroute to San Diego to upgrade her air defenses with two additional 3" guns and, four water-cooled Browning .50 caliber machine guns for the four gun tubs atop the bridge. Her 5" guns were retained. Note the lack of Radar.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

View the USS Neches (AO-5)
DANFS history entry at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

Neches sinking by HIJMS I-72, 23 January 1942

Commanding Officers
01	CDR., Meriwether, H. T.	25 October 1920 - ~1923
02	CDR., Shapley, Lloyd Stowell,	~1923 - ~
.	CDR., Fletcher, William B. Fletcher Jr.,	~ - 23 January1942


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
NAVSEA World War II War Damage Report

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Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index

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Last Updated 3 July 2009