A river in Nebraska.
Niobrara (AO-72) was laid down 29 June 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Sparrows Point, Md., under a Maritime Commission contract; launched 28 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Mark O'Dea; and commissioned 13 March 1943, Comdr. Theodore G. Haff in command.
Shakedown and fueling-at-sea training completed, Niobrara sailed from Norfolk 17 April 1943 to carry oil to Argentia, Nfld., then ferried oil from ports in Texas and Aruba, N.W.I., to Mediterranean ports to support operations in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily. In March 1944 she was altered at Norfolk for Pacific service, and sailed for the Panama Canal, Pearl Harbor, and Kwajalein where she fueled transports bound for the Marianas invasions begun in June 1944.
Niobrara served as station tanker at Eniwetok until July, then operated from that base fueling ships at sea, thus enabling carrier task forces to roam the western Pacific and the Philippine Sea without interrupting their strikes to return to port. On 1 October she arrived in Kossol Roads, Palaus, to serve as station tanker for smaller combatants patrolling during the assault and occupation of the Palaus, then for forces preparing for the return to the Philippines. On 8 January 1945, she herself proceeded to Leyte, then into the South China Sea to fuel TF 38, then attacking the China coast.
During the next two months, she served at Ulithi and Saipan fueling ships for the Iwo Jima invasion and preparing for the Okinawa campaign. She sailed 26 March from Ulithi for Okinawa, and after refueling 5th Fleet striking units at sea, closed Hagushi Beach 5 April to fuel radar picket destroyers. Air and submarine alerts, as well as gunfire close ashore, required expert seamanship to refuel ships alongside while maneuvering to protect the ship. She continued to support ships patrolling off Okinawa and carrier striking forces until the end of the war.
Niobrara entered Tokyo Bay 30 August to witness the surrender, and after three months' occupation duty, sailed for Guam, where she aided in salvage work. On 10 December she sailed for the Panama Canal and the east coast, along which she operated until decommissioning 24 September 1946.
She lay in reserve at Philadelphia until recommissioning 5 February 1951 for three years' service with the Atlantic Fleet along the east coast, in the Caribbean, and in the Mediterranean. On 13 June 1954 she arrived in San Diego to join the Pacific Fleet's operations until decommissioning 30 November 1954. She recommissioned at San Francisco 14 December 1956 and again served in the Pacific Fleet until sailing to Galveston where she decommissioned 12 November 1957. She transferred to the Maritime Administration 5 December 1957 and joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Beaumont, Tex., where she remains into 1969.
Niobrara received 4 battle stars for World War II service.
