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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Neches (AO-47)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Lima - Tango
 NCLT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9)- World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Korea)
Fourth Row - Philippine Liberation Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Mattaponi Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 12 June 1941, for Keystone Tankship Corp., as SS Aekay, a Maritime Commission type (TE-A(MC-K)) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 148) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 11 October 1941
  • Acquired by the Navy, 20 July 1942
  • Commissioned USS Neches (AO-47), 16 September 1942
  • Decommissioned, 10 July 1950, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 3 June 1951, at Oakland, CA.
  • Decommissioned in June 1955
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Stockton Group
  • Recommissioned, 24 November 1961
  • Decommissioned in 1970
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1970
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, sold by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing service for scrapping, 1 December 1973
  • USS Neches received nine battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,809 t.(lt) 21,450 t.(fl)
    Length 520'
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 6"
    Speed 17 kts.
    Complement 242
    Armament 1942 (as built)
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Armament 1968
    two single 3"50 dual purpose gun mounts forward
    Cargo Capacity 135,000 barrels
    Propulsion geared turbine, single screw, 12,800hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    BB-55 North Carolina71USS Neches (AO-47) refueling USS North Carolina (BB-55) mid-Pacific, date unknown. Neches' camouflage is measure 32 design 5AO. US Navy photo
    Neches 94k USS Neches (AO-47), mid-Pacific, near International dateline, 19 February 1966 © Richard Leonhardt
    View the USS Neches (AO-47)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Neches AO-47 Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 18 August 2006