The USS Neosho (AO-23) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler constructed for the United States Navy, designed to transport and deliver fuel to naval vessels at sea. Laid down on June 22, 1938, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey, she was launched on April 29, 1939, and commissioned on August 7, 1939. The vessel was named after the Neosho River in Kansas and Oklahoma, marking her as the second ship to bear this name. Following her commissioning, Neosho underwent a conversion at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, completed on July 7, 1941. She was then assigned to ferry aviation fuel from the West Coast to Pearl Harbor. On December 6, 1941, she arrived at Pearl Harbor, discharged a full cargo, and prepared for her return voyage. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the next day, Neosho was actively involved, maneuvering her vessel to avoid enemy fire and firing her guns to defend herself, shooting down one enemy aircraft and deterring others. She sustained three wounded crewmen but managed to escape destruction during the attack. In the early months of World War II, Neosho operated independently or with aircraft carriers to supply vital fuel during operations in the South Pacific. During the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, she refueled the carrier Yorktown and the cruiser Astoria. On May 8, 1942, she was attacked by Japanese aircraft, suffering seven direct hits from bombs and a suicide dive bomber. Despite severe damage and her aft section ablaze, sound seamanship and damage control kept her afloat for several days until her eventual rescue. Her crew of 123 was rescued by the destroyer USS Henley on May 11, 1942, after which the ship was sunk by gunfire. The USS Neosho's service highlights her role as a crucial logistical vessel in the Pacific theater, her resilience during attack, and her contribution to the early naval campaigns of World War II.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.