USS Neosho (AO-143)

The USS Neosho (AO-143) was a "Neosho"-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy in service from 1954 to the early 1990s.

The fourth "USS Neosho (AO–143)" was laid down 15 August 1952 by the Fore River Shipyard, Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy (Massachusetts, USA) and named "Neosho" on the 29 September 1953. She was launched on 10 November 1953, sponsored by Mrs. Phillips, wife of Rear Admiral John S. Phillips, the last commanding officer of the USS Neosho (AO-23). AO-143 was commissioned on 24 September 1954, Captain Norman E. Smith in command.

"Neosho" was the first of a class of U.S. Navy fleet oilers designed to combine speed and large cargo capacity for underway replenishment. She entered service Norfolk, Virginia (USA), in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet on 8 December 1954. A unit of SERVLANT, she operated along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean until 7 September 1955, when she got underway for her first Mediterranean deployment. Since that initial deployment, "Neosho" rotated regularly between the 6th and 2nd Fleets. By 1967 she had taken part in over 2,500 replenishments to transfer more than 640 million gallons of petroleum products under both normal and crisis operational conditions. In the fall of 1956, during her second 6th Fleet deployment, she supported units of that fleet as they stood by in case they were called on to intervene in the Suez Crisis and the tense period which followed. In the fall of 1962 she provided logistical support to the ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis enforcing the Naval Quarantine of Cuba. Less than three years later, in 1965, she serviced Atlantic Fleet ships during the political turmoil in the Dominican Republic which led to the U.S. intervention, called Operation Power Pack.

In January 1968, "Neosho" emerged from overhaul at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth, Va., to commence another three year employment cycle beginning with refresher training and local operations, followed by two seven month Mediterranean tours sandwiching duty with the 2nd Fleet, and ending, in late 1970, with another overhaul.

"Neosho" was decommissioned on 25 May 1978, and placed in service with the Military Sealift Command as "USNS Neosho (T-AO-143)", continuing her service with a civilian crew. She was placed out of service in the early 1990s and struck from the Naval Register on 16 February 1994. "Neosho" was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 1 May 1999 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, Virginia (USA). The ship was returned to U.S. Navy custody six years later and sold for scrapping 2 February 2005. The scrapping was completed at International Shipbreaking, Brownsville, Texas (USA) on 8 November 2005.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n3/neosho-iv.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19143.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AO-143 Neosho]
* [http://www.ussneosho.freeservers.com/ "USS Neosho (AO-143)" veteran's website]

See also

* List of United States Navy ships