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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Niobrara (AO-72)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - November - Papa
NYNP

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)

Chiwawa Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 29 June 1942, as SS Citadel, a Maritime Commission type (T3-S-A1) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 520) at Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding, Sparrows Point, MD.

Launched, 28 November 1942

Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, 13 March 1943

Commissioned USS Niobrara (AO-72), 13 March 1943, CDR. Theodore G. Haff in command

During World War II USS Niobrara was initially assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later reassigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Saipan, 11 June to 10 August 1944	Luzon operation Formosa attacks, 21 January 1945 Nansei Shoto attack, 22 January 1945
Western Caroline Islands operation Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 1 to 14 October 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 24 March to 30 June 1945 5th and 3d Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto, 27 March to 4 May 1945

Following World War II USS Niobrara was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 28 November 1945

Decommissioned, 24 September 1946

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet Philadelphia, PA. Group

Recommissioned, 5 February 1951

Decommissioned, 30 November 1954, at San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Recommissioned, 14 December 1956, at San Francisco, CA.

Decommissioned, 12 November 1957, at Galveston, TX.

Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX., 5 December 1957

Title transfer to MARAD, 10 December 1958

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1959

Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD (Trade-in Exchange), 22 March 1982, scrapped in Germany

USS Niobrara earned four battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 5,708 t.(lt) 22,030 t.(fl)
Length 501' 8"
Beam 68'
Draft 30' 8"
Speed 15.3 kts.
Complement

Officers 23

Enlisted 224
Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

six twin 20mm AA gun mounts
Cargo Capacity 15,200 DWT

Oil 109,500 Bbls

Gasoline 16,400 Gals.
Fuel Capacity

NSFO 11,050 Bbls
Propulsion

one Bethlehem Shipbuilding geared turbine

two Foster-Wheeler D-type boilers, 450psi 730@deg

double Falk Main Reduction Gears

three 300Kw 240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller. 7,000shp

Size	Image Description	Source
890k	*USS Niobrara* (AO-72)** underway, probably at New York, date unknown	Gary J. Strouse for his father James G. Strouse Y1/c USS Niobrara
73k	Aerial view of *USS Niobrara* (AO-72)** underway, 14 April 1943, location unknown.	Stan Svec
38k	*USS Niobrara* (AO-72)** underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is Measure 32 Design 5AO.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
65k	*USS Niobrara* (AO-72) at her mooring in the lagoon at Eniwetok, 10 August 1944. Note the lifting device on her starboard side. Her camouflage is Measure 32 Design 5AO. Photo from the Dwight Spayth collection, taken from USS Ringgold (DD-500)**	John Chiquoine

USS Niobrara (AO-72)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Haff, Theodore G.	13 March 1943 - ?
02	CDR. Marts, Jr., John William	WWII


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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 30 March 2012