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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski, at right by Paul Gryniewicz

USS Noxubee (AOG-56)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Bravo - Charlie
 NCBC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (20 Oct. and 9 Sept. 1969) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (6) - Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation (5) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker
  • Laid down, 17 November 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (T1-MT-M1) tanker hull, under a Maritime Commission contract, at Cargill, Inc., Savage, MN.
  • Launched, 3 April 1945
  • Commissioned USS Noxubee (AOG-56), 19 October 1945, at New Orleans, LA., Lt. John Lands, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 6 March 1959, at Green Cove Springs FL
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register, and transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 1 July 1960
  • Reinstated on the Naval Register in 1965
  • Recommissioned, 10 September 1966, at Norfolk, VA.
  • During the Vietnam War USS Noxubee participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase II
    5 April to 23 May 1967     		Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 July to 11 August 1968
    18 September to 25 November 1968
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase III
    29 June to 1 August 1967     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    23 June to 25 September 1969
    17 to 31 October 1969
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    9 May to 30 June 1968     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    1 to 13 November 1969
    13 December 1969 to 9 January 1970

  • Decommissioned in 1975
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1975
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD for scrapping
  • USS Noxubee earned six campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,850 t.(lt) 4,335 t.(fl)
    Length 310' 9"
    Beam 48' 6"
    Draft 15' 8"
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement
    Officers - 8
    Enlisted - 116
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    four 3"/50 dual purpose guns
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity
    Oils - 7,975 Bbls
    Gasoline - 410,500 Gals
    Fuel Capacity Diesel - 2,240 Bbls
    Propulsion
    four 980 hp 12-278A General Motors Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ships Service Generators
    two Diesel-drive 225Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 10Kw 240V D.C.
    two propellers, 3,300shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Noxubee 127k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) underway, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Noxubee 50k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) underway, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Noxubee 85k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) at anchor circa 1955, location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Noxubee 36k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) refueling USS Wandank (ATA-204), date and location unknown Photo by Eli Blanco USS Wandank 1967-68
    Noxubee 76k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) underway, circa 1973, location unknown Paul Gryniewicz
    Noxubee 70k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) in port, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Noxubee 154k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) underway, circa 1956, location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Nespelen 55k USS Noxubee (AOG-56) and USS Nespelen (AOG-56) moored at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA. for decommissioning, 1 July 1975. SFC Peter Messineo USS Nespelen 1974-75
    View the USS Noxubee (AOG-56)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Noxubee AOG-56
    Avgas MoGas and Jet Fuel - The Story of the Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Gasoline Tanker (AOG) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 29 May 2009