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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Neshanic (AO-71)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Mike - Quebec NXMQ

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 18 June 1944) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Purple Hearts (33-WIA-18 June 1944)

Chiwawa Class Fleet Oiler

Laid down, 11 June 1942, as SS Marquette, a Maritime Commission type (T2-SE-A1) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission (MC hull 519) at Bethlehem Sparrow's Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrow's Point, MD.

Launched, 31 October 1942

Commissioned USS Neshanic (AO-71), 20 February 1943, CDR. Albert C. Allen, USNR, in command

Decommissioned, 19 December 1945, at Norfolk, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 8 January 1946

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 28 June 1946, for disposal

Commercial Service

Sold for commercial service in 1947, to Gulf Oil Corporation, Philadelphia, PA., renamed SS Gulfoil

Resold in 1958, to Pioneer Steamship Co., renamed SS Pioneer Challenge and converted to a straight deck bulk carrier

Resold in 1962 to the Oglebay Norton Company, renamed SS Middletown; converted to a self-unloader in 1982 at Bay Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay

Sold in 2007 to American Steamship Co., renamed SS American Victory

Neshanic received nine battle stars for World War II service

(AO) Specifications
Displacement 5,650 t.(lt) 21,077 t.(fl)
Length 502' 6"
Beam 68'
Draft 31'
Speed 17 kts.
Complement 13 officers 200 enlisted
Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

six twin 20mm AA gun mounts
Cargo Capacity 134,000 barrels
Propulsion geared turbine, single screw. 12,000hp
Bulk Carrier Specifications
Length 730'
Beam 75'
Draft 39' 3"
Capacity (tons) 26,300
Unloading boom 260'

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Neshanic (AO-71)
	333k	*USS Neshanic* (AO-71)** inbound in San Francisco Bay passing under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, date unknown..	Edward Link for his father-in-law CEM William G. Birkel USS Neshanic
	23k	*USS Neshanic* (AO-71) refueling the destroyer, USS Norman Scott (DD-690)** off Saipan in June 1944.	Wayne VanDerVoort
	77k	View from *USS Saugatuck* (AO-75) during a horizontal bombing attack at 1641 on 18 June 1944 off Saipan. Oilers and escorts were on station as TU 16.7.1. USS Saranac (AO-74) has just been hit off to port beyond USS Neshanic (AO-71). Moments after this photo was snapped Neshanic and Saugatuck are attacked. Neshanic** is painted in camouflage Measure 32 Design 3AO. Photo from the collection of Al DeSantis.	Carmen Costa and John Chiquoine
Commercial Service
	39k	Ex- *USS Neshanic* (AO-71)** in commercial service as Oglebay Norton Company's SS Middletown	Great Lakes Fleet Photo Gallery

View the USS Neshanic (AO-71)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

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

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
U.S. Navy Oilers

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 31 2008