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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AO-60 Nantahala

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign: November - Tango - Xray - Romeo
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Cimmeron/Ashtabula Class Fleet Oiler
  • Laid down, 31 October 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC 726) at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 29 April 1944
  • Commissioned USS Nantahala (AO-60), 19 June 1944, CDR. Palmer M. Gunnell in command
  • During WWII Nantahala was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Western Caroline Islands operation, September 1944 Iwo Jima operations, February-March 1945
    Leyte operations, October-December 1944 Okinawa Gunto operations, March-May 1945
    Luzon operations, January 1945 3rd Fleet operation against Japan, July 1945

  • Decommissioned, 1 June 1950, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Withdrawn from reserve and recommissioned, 29 December 1950, at Long Beach, CA., CDR. W. S. Howell in command
  • Decommissioned (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register. 2 July 1973
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD sale, 5 March 1975
  • Nantahala received six battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32'
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 314
    Armament
    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
    Cargo Capacity 146,000 barrels
    Propulsion geared turbines, twin screws, 30,400hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Nantahala 90k Nantahala (AO-60) underway in Chesapeake Bay, August 1964. ©Richard Leonhardt
    Nantahala 73k Nantahala (AO-60) refueling Steinaker (DD-863) in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo was taken from Wallace L Lind (DD-703). Photo by Jim McCoy
    Nantahala 71k Nantahala (AO-60) entering Malta Harbor, 1970 Photo by local photographer
    Submitted by Robert Warnke, SN, USS Nantahala May 1969 to February 1973
    View the Nantahala (AO-60)
    DANFS History entry located on at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Nantahala AO-60
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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 20 October 2006