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Citadel
T3-SE-A1
Chiwawa Class Fleet Oiler:
Laid down, 29 June 1942, as Citadel, a Maritime Commission type (T3-SE-A1) tanker hull under Maritime
Commission contract, (MC hull 520) at Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding, Sparrows Point, MD.
Launched, 28 November 1942
Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and Commissioned USS Niobrara (AO-72), 13 March 1943
Decommissioned, 24 September 1946
Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet Philadelphia, PA. Group
Recommissioned, 5 February 1951
Decommissioned, 30 November 1954, at San Diego, CA.
Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet Recommissioned, 14 December 1956, at San Francisco, CA.
Decommissioned, 12 November 1957, at Galveston, TX.
Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1959
Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD, 19 March 1982, fate unknown.
( See photos below )
Specifications:
Displacement 5,708 t.(lt) 21,077 t.(fl)
Length 502'
Beam 68'
Draft 30' 8"
Speed 17 kts.
Complement 247
Armament one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, four 3"/50 guns,
four twin 40mm gun mounts, six twin 20mm gun mounts
Cargo Capacity 134,000 barrels
Propulsion geared turbine, single screw. 12,000hp
View the USS Niobrara (AO-72)
DANFS history entry located at Navsource.
"USS Niobrara (AO-72)" near Hampton Roads, VA., 16 March 1943. Note she is passing the Hampton Roads lightship.( Photo Collection Robert Hurst )
"USS Niobrara (AO-72)" near Hampton Roads, VA., 16 March 1943. Note she is passing the Hampton Roads lightship.( Photo Collection Robert Hurst )
"USS Niobrara (AO-72)" under way, probably at New York, date unknown.( Photo Collection Gary J. Strouse for his father James G. Strouse )
USS Niobrara (AO-72), underway, date and location unknown.
( US Navy Photo )
USS Niobrara (AO-72) underway, date and place unknown.
USS Niobrara (AO-72) underway, date and place unknown.
USS Niobrara (AO-72) at her mooring in the lagoon at Eniwetok, 10 August 1944.
Note the unusual refueling tower on her starboard side.