USS Neosho (AO-23)

USS Neosho (AO-23) was a of the United States Navy named for the Neosho River in Kansas and Oklahoma. Commissioned in 1939, she played a critical logistical role in the early Pacific War, supporting the Pacific Fleet's carrier task forces. The ship is most remembered for her sacrificial role in the Battle of the Coral Sea, where she was sunk after drawing the attack of Japanese carrier aircraft away from the vital American carriers.

Construction and commissioning

The vessel was laid down on 22 June 1938 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company yard in Kearny, New Jersey. She was launched on 29 August 1938, sponsored by Mrs. Emory S. Land, and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 7 August 1939, with Commander John S. Phillips in command. Her design was based on a commercial Standard Oil tanker hull, a common practice for the *Cimarron* class, to expedite construction and increase fuel capacity for the fleet.

Service history

Following her shakedown cruise in the Atlantic Ocean, *Neosho* was assigned to the Neutrality Patrol and later transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1940, based at Pearl Harbor. On 7 December 1941, she was moored at the naval station during the attack on Pearl Harbor, miraculously sustaining only minor damage from Japanese strafing and near-misses. In the subsequent months, she became a key element of Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.'s Task Force 16, refueling the carriers USS *Enterprise* (CV-6) and USS *Hornet* (CV-8) during the Doolittle Raid and early raids in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.

Battle of the Coral Sea and loss

During the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, *Neosho*, accompanied by the destroyer USS *Sims* (DD-409), was ordered to a designated fueling rendezvous point south of the main fleet. On 7 May, the oiler and her escort were mistakenly identified by Japanese aerial reconnaissance as a carrier and a cruiser. Aircraft from the carriers *Shōkaku* and *Zuikaku* launched a devastating attack. *Sims* was quickly sunk, and *Neosho* was hit by seven bombs and a crashing Val dive bomber, leaving her dead in the water and ablaze. Her crew fought the fires for days until survivors were rescued by the destroyer USS *Henley* (DD-391) on 11 May. The ship was then scuttled by gunfire from *Henley*. Her prolonged survival and misidentification are credited with diverting the Japanese strike away from the carriers USS *Lexington* (CV-2) and USS *Yorktown* (CV-5).

Wreck discovery

The wreck of *Neosho* was undiscovered for over seven decades. In 2018, the research vessel RV Petrel, funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, located the wreckage in the Coral Sea at a depth of approximately 2,000 meters. The discovery, confirmed by the Naval History and Heritage Command, provided final closure on the vessel's exact resting place and served as a tangible memorial to her crew's sacrifice.

Awards and legacy

For her service in World War II, USS *Neosho* was awarded two battle stars for her actions at Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Coral Sea. Her legacy is that of a "sacrificial lamb" whose presence likely saved the American carrier force at a critical juncture in the war. The name was later carried by a and a , honoring the original ship's service. Her story is a prominent part of the historical narrative of the Pacific War, illustrating the vital and vulnerable role of fleet logistics.

Category:World War II fleet oilers of the United States Category:Ships sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea Category:1939 ships