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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-71 Neshanic

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Mike - Quebec
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
    Still operational on the Great Lakes as of 2007
  • 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)
    Neshanic 23k Neshanic (AO-71) refueling a destroyer, Norman Scott (DD-690) off Saipan in June 1944. Wayne VanDerVoort
    Saranac 77k View from 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. Saranac (AO-74) has just been hit off to port beyond 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
    Neshanic 39k Ex- Neshanic (AO-71) in commercial service as Oglebay Norton Company's SS Middletown Great Lakes Fleet Photo Gallery
    View the Neshanic (AO-71)
    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
    No Information Available
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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 12 October 2007