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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AO-72 Niobrara

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - November - Papa
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
  • 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
  • Niobrara earned four battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,708 t.(lt) 21,077 t.(fl)
    Length 502'
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' 8"
    Speed 17 kts.
    Complement 247
    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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Niobrara 73k Aerial view of Niobrara (AO-72) underway, 14 April 1943, location unknown. Stan Svec
    Niobrara 38k Niobrara (AO-72) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is Measure 32 Design 5AO. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Niobrara 65k Niobrara (AO-72) at her mooring in the lagoon at Eniwetok, 10 August 1944. Note the unusual refueling tower on her starboard side. Her camouflage is Measure 32 Design 5AO. Photo from the Dwight Spayth collection, taken from Ringgood (DD-500) John Chiquoine
    View the Niobrara (AO-72)
    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 29 June 2007