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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148)
ex
USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) (1956 - 1980)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Tango - Delta NJTD
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Wardrobe (J)uilet - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - Navy Expeditionary Medal
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Taiwan Straits, Vietnam, Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (12)
Third Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Neosho Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 1 March 1954, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.

Launched, 9 July 1955

Commissioned USS Ponchatoula (AO-148), 12 January 1956, CAPT. William R. Wilson in command

During The Vietnam War USS Ponchatoula participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 23 - 24 April 1959 6 to 8 September 1963 19 to 21 October 1964 24 October to 6 November 1964 21 to 28 December 1964 25 to 29 January 1965 1 to 15 February 1965 21 February to 16 March 1965	Vietnamese Summer-Fall 1969 9 to 15 and 20 to 26 June 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase II 30 September to 12 October 1966 24 to 31 October 1966 9 to 18 November 1966 3 to 12 and 21 to 26 December 1966 16 to 24 January 1967 7 to 15 and 25 to 28 February 1967 16 to 24 March 1967 2 to 8 April 1967	Sanctuary Counteroffensive 12 May to 7 June 1970 20 to 30 June 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase III 17 to 28 November 1967 11 to 18 and 23 to 28 December 1967 08 to 14 and 21 to 29 January 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII 1 to 4 July 1970 17 to 25 July 1970 31 July to 8 August 1970 17 to 27 August 1970 1 to 4 September 1970
Tet Counteroffensive 8 to 17 February 1968 27 February to 8 March 1968 13 to 24 March 1968	Consolidation I 7 to 18 and 23 to 26 August 1971 14 to 28 September 1971 9 to 24 October 1971 9 to 13 November 1971 20 to 30 November 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase IV 05 to 19 April 1968 30 April to 6 May 1968 11 to 18 and 24 to 26 May 1968	Consolidation II 1 to 6 December 1971 9 to 14 and 17 to 22 December 1971 2 January to 8 January 1972
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VI 16 to 30 December 1968 7 to 16 January 1969 4 to 11 February 1969	Ceasefire Campaign 17 to 29 November 1972 6 to 10 and 20 to 30 December 1972 7 January to 20 January 1973 25 January to 28 January 1972
Tet 69/Counteroffensive 1 to 11 and 17 to 22 March 1969 31 March to 6 April 1969 25 April to 7 May 1969 12 to 21 May 1969

Decommissioned, 5 September 1980

USS Ponchatoula earned twelve campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148)

Placed out of service, 1 April 1992, at Oakland, CA.

Transferred, 2 April 1992, to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 31 August 1992

USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service3 Medal with twelve campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Title transfer to MARAD, 1 May 1999, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in April 2014, to International Shipbreaking LTD. (ESCO), Brownsville, TX.

Removed to Mare Island for cleaning, 17 May 2014

Removed from Mare Island, 5 June 2014, by M/V Elspeth III for transit to Brownsville, TX.

Arrived, 24 July 2014, at International Shipbreaking LTD. (ESCO), Brownsville, TX.

Specifications:
Displacement 11,600 t.(lt), 38,000 t.(fl)
Length 655'
Beam 86'
Draft 35'
Speed 20 kts.
Cargo Capacity 180,000 bbls

Complement

USS 324 navy

USNS 106 civilian mariners, 21 navy

Armament

two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts

six twin 3"/50 gun mounts

Propulsion

two geared turbines

two boilers

two propellers, 28,000 shaft horsepower

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Ponchatoula (AO-148)
	143k	Ponchatoula (AO-148) Christening by the ships sponsor, Mrs. I. N. Kiland, and launching, 9 July 1955, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J. US National Archives	Dale Hargrave
	66k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** at anchor, 24 February 1956, location unknown. US Navy photo # NH 42637 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	104k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway at sea, circa 1956-1959. US Navy photo # NH 99054 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	127k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** entering the Dry Dock #1 at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, July 1956. US Navy photo	Richard Miller BMCS USNR
	71k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway , date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hand" magazine, May 1958	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	68k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway on San Francisco Bay in 1958. Photo ©Allied Photographers of San Francisco.	Robert M. Cieri
	124k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) during an UNREP with USS Ranger (CV-61)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hand" magazine, April 1959	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	37k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) during underway replenishment (UNREP) with USS Yorktown (CVS-10)** in 1959. Photo taken from HMS Chichester.	Photo by Rob Jerrard
	106k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) during underway replenishment with USS Ranger (CVA-61) and USS Coontz (DLG-9)*, 21 September 1961. US Navy photo # NH 99055* from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	13k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) departing under the Golden Gate Bridge, March 1964, to rendezvous with the USS Oriskany (CV-34)** battle group and then on to Pearl Harbor	Photo by Dan Axtell USS Ponchatoula January 1963 to August 1965
	103k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) alongside USS Yorktown (CVS-10)** as she refuels a destroyer (Fletcher class, ex-DDE) off her starboard side, 25 January 1965. US Navy photo # NH 99056 by PH2 J.D. Waino, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	25k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) laying at anchor, Hong Kong 1965, for R&R after being relieved by USS Sacramento (AOE-1)** upon completion of her tour in the Gulf of Tonkin.	Photo by Dan Axtell crew member January 1963 to August 1965
091914842	310k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) alongside USS Bon Homme Richard (CV 31), WestPac, circa 1965-1966. The destroyer off Ponchatoula starboard side appears to be USS Hollister (DD-788)**. Photosby RD3 Bob Zale.	Bob Canchola
	98k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** at Pearl Harbor, HI., 12 February 1966	© Richard Leonhardt
	48k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) during underway replenishment of USS Enterprise (CVN-65)** while in the Tonkin Gulf in 1967.	Barry Litchfield USS Ponchatoula
	40k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway , circa 1968, location unknown. US Navy photo by PH2 D. L. Fey.	Robert Hurst
K-63624	293k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, 25 November 1968. US Navy photos # K-63624 and unknown by PH3 D.L. Fry.	Mike Smolinski
unknown	293k		Mike Smolinski
	112k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) prepares to refuel USS Coontz (DLG-9), in the South China Sea in July 1969. Another guided missile frigate is pulling away in the distance. photographed from on board USS Coontz (DLG-9)*. US Navy photo # USN 11395711* from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	Robert Hurst
	89k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** being maneuvered by tugs to get into position for entry into Richland (AFDM-8), in preparation for drydocking at Guam during the 1970s. US Navy photo # NH 99062 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	115k	Astern view of *USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** while drydocked in Richland (AFDM-8), at Guam during the 1970s. Open Lighter (NSP)*YC-1458* is in the foreground. Original caption: "The size of the ship's propellers is evident in this photograph taken in drydock." US Navy photo # NH 99063 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	88k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** drydocked in Richland (AFDM-8), at Guam during the 1970s. US Navy photo # NH 99061 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	150k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, 26 March 1970. US Navy photo # NH 98832 by PH1 E.L. Goligoski, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	167k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway in the Pacific Ocean, circa 1970. US Navy photo # NH 99057 by PHCS Fautheree, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	83k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148) refueling USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)** while underway in the Pacific Ocean during Operation "RimPac 75", 7 April 1975. A Canadian Navy frigate and HMCS Provider are in the left background, with a US Navy Knox class escort ship following them. The Australian and New Zealand navies also took part in this operation. US Navy photo # NH 99058 by PH1 W.J. Galligan, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	35k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** underway , date and location unknown. US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
	21k	*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** moored at Pearl Harbor, date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148)
091914843	109k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148)** approaching the American Trading & Transportation Corporation asphalt carrier SS Texas Trader in the Indian Ocean, September 1985. Photo collection Richard Johnson-Auke Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages	Robert Hurst
091914839	293k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148)** entering the port of Pusan, South Korea, 1 December 1986. Photos taken from a Dutch flagged tug.	Photos by Dirk Dijksman
091914840	281k
091914841	305k
	87k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148) comes alongside USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19)** to conduct underway replenishment, during operations in the Philippine Sea, 3 December 1991. US Navy photo # NH 99059 by PHAN Gary Denman, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	101k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148)** underway in the Philippine Sea, 3 December 1991. US Navy photo # NH 99060 by PHAN Gary Denman, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	64k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148), from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)**, mid-Pacific, 1991.	Photo by AMS3 Rowan
	105k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148)** underway , date and location unknown. DOD photo # DNST9202784	Defense News Service
	128k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148)** underway , date and location unknown. DOD photo # DNST9202829	Defense News Service
	87k	*USNS Ponchatoula* (T-AO-148)** underway , date and location unknown. DOD photo # DNST9202830	Defense News Service
MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet
	210k	Ex-*USS Ponchatoula* (AO-148)** laid up in reserve in the Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. US Maritime Administration photos	Ron Reeves
	307k		Ron Reeves

Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by R.A. Moody	Contributed by Tommy Trampp

For more photos and information about USS / USNS Ponchatoula, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
MARAD Vessel History Database
USS Ponchatoula Shipmates Association
USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148)

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Wilson, William Richie, USN (USNA 1932)	12 January 1956 - 23 January 1957
02	CAPT. Denny, James Beattie, USN (USNA 1933)	23 January 1957 - March 1958
03	CAPT. Headland Jr., Edwin Harvey	March 1958 - January 1959
04	CAPT. Higginbotham, Grover Stanley	January 1959 - May 1960
05	CAPT. Spruance, Howard D.	May 1960 - July 1961
06	CAPT. Toulon Jr., Alfred Joseph, USN (USNA 1939)	July 1961 - 10 August 1962
07	CAPT. Fischer Jr., Arthur Frederick, USN (USNA 1939)	10 August 1962 - 6 July 1963
08	CAPT. Bennett, John Edward (Jack), USN (USNA 1941)	6 July 1963 - 31 July 1964
09	CAPT. Madson, Richard Oscar, USN (USNA 1943)	31 July 1964 - 30 July 1965
10	CAPT. Quinn, Frank Nelson, USN	30 July 1965 - 15 August 1966
11	CAPT. Greer, Howard Earl (Howie), USN (USNA 1944) :VADM	15 August 1966 - 1 August 1967
12	CAPT. Greene, Wallace Martin Allen, USN	1 August 1967 - 16 November 1968
13	CAPT. Kojm, Leonard Richard, USN	16 November 1968 - 16 April 1970
14	CAPT. Dedman, Tyler Freeland, USN (USNA 1948-A) :RADM	16 April 1970 - 1971
15	CAPT. McConeghy Jr., John Knox, USN (USNA 1948-B)	June 1971 - 14 September 1973
16	CAPT. Hubbard Jr., Samuel Walton (Sam) :RADM	14 September 1973 - 28 February 1975
17	CAPT. Furlong Jr., George Morgan (Skip), USN (USNA 1956) :RADM	28 February 1975 - June 1976
18	CAPT. Edney, Leon Albert (Bud) :ADM	June 1976 - 12 May 1977
19	CAPT. Carmichael, E. Inman (Hoagy) :RADM	12 May 1977 - 22 August 1978
20	CAPT. Dunleavy, Richard Michael (Dick), USN :VADM	22 August 1978 - 6 November 1979
21	CAPT. Presley, Jack Cole	6 November 1979 - 5 September 1980


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 20 September 2024

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148)ex USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) (1956 - 1980)

USNS Ponchatoula (T-AO-148)
ex
USS Ponchatoula (AO-148) (1956 - 1980)