About this Unit
USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148) was a Neosho-class fleet oiler launched in 1955 and commissioned into service with the United States Navy in 1956. Named after the city of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, she played a crucial role in providing underway replenishment of fuel and supplies to U.S. Navy ships at sea, supporting operations during the Cold War, Vietnam War, and other deployments. Ponchatoula was transferred to the Military Sealift Command and redesignated as USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148) in 1976, continuing to serve with a primarily civilian crew. After decades of service, she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1992.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148) was named after the city of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, continuing the tradition of naming fleet oilers after rivers and cities.
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Class: She was a Neosho-class fleet oiler, one of six built in the mid-1950s for the U.S. Navy to provide underway replenishment to naval vessels.
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Commissioned Service: Ponchatoula was launched on 9 July 1955 and commissioned on 12 January 1956, serving both in active duty and later as a Military Sealift Command vessel.
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Vietnam War Operations: The ship played a vital logistics role during the Vietnam War, refueling U.S. and allied ships at sea, supporting sustained naval operations off the Vietnamese coast.
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Apollo Recovery Missions: Ponchatoula served as a backup recovery ship for multiple Apollo space missions, including Apollo 7, Apollo 8, and Apollo 10, ready to refuel support ships involved in the missions.
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Record-Setting Replenishment: In 1968, Ponchatoula set a record for the number of underway replenishments in a single deployment, providing fuel and supplies to a high volume of ships in the Pacific.
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Transition to Civilian Crew: In 1973, Ponchatoula was transferred to the Military Sealift Command and redesignated USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148), operating with a civilian crew.
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Disaster Relief: Ponchatoula participated in humanitarian missions, including disaster relief operations in the Pacific, demonstrating the flexibility and value of fleet oilers in non-combat roles.
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Decommission and Fate: She was taken out of service in 1992 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1992. In 2014, the ship was sold for scrapping after being in reserve for over two decades.
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Legacy: Ponchatoula received multiple awards for her service, including campaign and service medals for Vietnam, and is remembered for her critical support role that kept U.S. Navy ships fueled and operational across the globe.
