NEOSHO (AO 143) Class

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USS Neosho (AO 143).
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Class: NEOSHO (AO 143)
Design: SCB Project No. 82
Displacement (tons): 11,600 light, 38,000 full
Dimensions (feet): 655' oa, 640' wl x 86' e/wl x 35' max nav
Original Armament: 2-5"/38S, 6-3"/50T, plus 6-20mmT in 143-45 and 148
Later Armaments: (143, 144: 1957) 1-5"/38S, 6-3"/50T except 4-3"/50T in 144; (all less 144: 1959-61) 6-3"50T; (144: 1961, 143: 1965, 147: 1969, 145-146 and 148: 1976) 4-3"/50T; (148: 1979) 2-3"/50T Accommodations: 21 officers, 303 enlisted
Speed (kts.): 20
Propulsion (HP): 28,000
Machinery: Geared steam turbines, 2 boilers (600psi/675deg), 2 screws

Construction:

AO	Name	Ord	Builder	Keel	Launch	Comm
143	NEOSHO	24 Aug 1951	Bethlehem, Quincy	2 Sep 1952	10 Nov 1953	24 Sep 1954
144	MISSISSINEWA	28 Jan 1952	NYSB	4 May 1953	12 Jun 1954	18 Jan 1955
145	HASSAYAMPA	28 Feb 1952	NYSB	13 Jul 1953	12 Sep 1954	19 Apr 1955
146	KAWISHIWI	28 Jan 1952	NYSB	5 Oct 1953	11 Dec 1954	6 Jul 1955
147	TRUCKEE	28 Feb 1952	NYSB	21 Dec 1953	10 Mar 1955	23[18] Nov 1955
148	PONCHATULA	28 Jan 1952	NYSB	1 Mar 1954	9 Jul 1955	12 Jan 1956

Disposition:

AO	Name	T	Decomm	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale/Depart
143	NEOSHO	Tr	10 Aug 1992	16 Feb 1994	1 May 1999	MA/T	18 Dec 2004
144	MISSISSINEWA	Tr	30 Jul 1991	16 Feb 1994	1 May 1999	MA/T	30 Jan 2007/D
145	HASSAYAMPA	Tr	2 Oct 1991	16 Feb 1994	1 May 1999	MA/T	7 May 2014
146	KAWISHIWI	Tr	31 Jul 1992	7 Nov 1994	1 May 1999	MA/T	1 May 2014
147	TRUCKEE	Tr	21 Oct 1991	18 Jul 1994	1 May 1999	MA/T	6 Aug 2008/D
148	PONCHATULA	Tr	1 Apr 1992	31 Aug 1992	1 May 1999	MA/T	28 Apr 2014

Class Notes:
Approved characteristics for a new construction fleet oiler (AO), SCB Project No. 82, were promulgated on 20 May 1953 and updated on 18 April 1958. AO 145 and 147 were ordered from Ingalls on 28 Jan 1952 but that contract was cancelled on 28 Feb 1952 and they were reassigned on the same date to NYSB.

On 14 May 1959 a team from the Preliminary Design Branch of BUSHIPS (Code 421) visited AO 147 and AO 143 to get their crews' reactions to this relatively new AO type in connection with new design work in progress(notably the AOE type). They learned that the AO 143 type ships had experienced no difficulty in replenishing operations in up to force 4 winds due to poor seakeeping or lack of stability and that roll stabilization features were unnecessary. The ships had, however, experienced major trouble with green water inundating the main deck and even the forecastle, smashing up and completely disrupting the deck load cargo of AvGas drums and pressurized gas cylinders on the main deck and causing structural damage on the forecastle. The ships suggested that the main deck forward be enclosed. Visibility from the bridge was considered fine since the removal of the forward centerline mounted 5" gun. The most serious criticisms related to the machinery plant. Opinion was unanimous that the ships were underpowered in backing, that the two boilers were insufficient, and that the ship service generators were inadequate to the extent that starting up the fire room forced draft blowers created a serious power drop on the line followed by a power surge that burned out lights and electronic components. The Executive Officer of NEOSHO summarized the general feeling concenting the machinery plant by called it "archaic." When shown the AOE design the officers of the two ships endorsed most of its features except the 40-foot draft, which they pointed out was too much for nearly all harbors on the U.S. East Coast, including Norfolk, to handle.

As of late 1954 the draft FY 1956 shipbuilding program included one SCB Project 82 AO. Approved characteristics for a fleet oiler (AO), SCB Project No. 82A, were promulgated on 21 October 1957 with a single change on 12 November 1957. Approved characteristics for an oiler (AO), SCB Project No. 217, were promulgated on 20 September 1961 without later changes. Neither project resulted in new ships.

Ship Notes:

AO	Name	MA	Notes
143	NEOSHO		FY 1952. To MSC 25 May 1978. To MA custody in JRRF 12 Aug 1992. Departed JRRF to Brownsville 9 Feb 2005, move completed 4 Mar 2005. BU completed 8 Nov 2005.
144	MISSISSINEWA		FY 1952. To MSC 15 Nov 1976. To MA custody in JRRF 30 Jul 1991. Departed JRRF to Brownsville 30 Jan 2007. BU completed 11 Feb 2008 by ISL.
145	HASSAYAMPA		FY 1952. To MSC 17 Nov 1978. To MA custody in SBRF 14 Nov 1991. Departed NDRF 29 May 2014 for breakers (All Star Metals)
146	KAWISHIWI		FY 1952. To MSC 10 Oct 1979. To MA custody in JRRF 16 Sep 1992. Departed 12 Jun 2014 for breakers (Int’l. SBr Ltd.).
147	TRUCKEE		FY 1952. To MSC 30 Jan 1980. To MA custody in JRRF 12 Dec 1991. Departed 6 Aug 2008 for breakers (Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA)
148	PONCHATULA		FY 1952. To MSC 5 Sep 1980. To MA custody in SBRF 2 Apr 1992. Departed 15 May 2014 for breakers (Int’l. SBr Ltd.).