USS Niobrara (AO-72)

• Namesake: USS Niobrara (AO-72) was named after the Niobrara River in Nebraska, following the U.S. Navy tradition of naming oilers after rivers. • Class and Type: She was a Suamico-class fleet oiler, built during World War II to support naval operations by refueling warships at sea. • Laid Down and Launched: Niobrara was laid down on September 31, 1942 (redesignated from MC hull 354), and launched on January 3, 1943, by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania. • Service Entry: Commissioned on February 14, 1943, she quickly became part of the vital logistics train supporting Allied operations in the Pacific. • Pacific Campaigns: Niobrara participated in major Pacific campaigns, including supporting the invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, Guam, Leyte, and Okinawa by supplying fuel to combat ships. • Kamikaze Threats: During the Okinawa campaign, Niobrara and her crew faced frequent kamikaze attacks, highlighting the dangers faced by support vessels in combat zones. • Record-Breaking Refueling: In one notable operation, Niobrara and her crew set a record by refueling 15 ships in a single day under combat conditions. • Postwar Service: After World War II, Niobrara continued service, including supporting occupation forces in the Far East before being decommissioned in January 1946. • Korean War Reactivation: The oiler was recommissioned in January 1951 to support United Nations forces during the Korean War, operating in the Pacific and off the Korean coast. • Final Fate: USS Niobrara was decommissioned for the last time in November 1957 and struck from the Navy List in 1959, eventually being sold for scrap in 1964.