World War II, 1943–1945 Shakedown and fueling-at-sea training completed,
Niobrara sailed from
Norfolk, Virginia, on 17 April 1943 to carry oil to
Argentia, Newfoundland, then ferried oil from ports in
Texas and
Aruba,
Netherlands West Indies, to
Mediterranean ports to support operations in the invasions of
North Africa and
Sicily. In March 1944 she was altered at Norfolk for Pacific service, and sailed for the
Panama Canal,
Pearl Harbor, and
Kwajalein where she fueled transports bound for the
Marianas invasions begun in June 1944.
Niobrara served as station tanker at
Eniwetok until July, then operated from that base fueling ships at sea, thus enabling carrier task forces to roam the western Pacific and the
Philippine Sea without interrupting their strikes to return to port. On 1 October she arrived in
Kossol Roads,
Palaus, to serve as station tanker for smaller combatants patrolling during the assault and occupation of the Palaus, then for forces preparing for the return to the Philippines. On 8 January 1945, she herself proceeded to
Leyte, then into the
South China Sea to fuel
task force TF 38, then attacking the
China coast. During the next two months, she served at
Ulithi and
Saipan fueling ships for the
Iwo Jima invasion and preparing for the
Okinawa campaign. She sailed 26 March from Ulithi for Okinawa, and after refueling
5th Fleet striking units at sea, closed
Hagushi Beach on 5 April to fuel
radar picket destroyers. Air and
submarine alerts, as well as gunfire close ashore, required expert
seamanship to refuel ships alongside while maneuvering to protect the ship. She continued to support ships patrolling off Okinawa and carrier striking forces until the end of the war.
Post-war activities, 1945–1946 Niobrara entered
Tokyo Bay on 30 August to
witness the surrender, and after three months' occupation duty, sailed for
Guam, where she aided in salvage work. On 10 December she sailed for the Panama Canal and the east coast, along which she operated until decommissioning on 24 September 1946.
Atlantic Fleet, 1951–1954 She lay in reserve at
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until recommissioning on 5 February 1951 for three years' service with the Atlantic Fleet along the east coast, in the
Caribbean, and in the
Mediterranean. On 13 June 1954 she arrived in
San Diego, California, to join the Pacific Fleet's operations until decommissioning on 30 November 1954.
Pacific Fleet, 1956–1957 She recommissioned at
San Francisco, California, on 14 December 1956 and again served in the Pacific Fleet until sailing to
Galveston, Texas, where she decommissioned on 12 November 1957.
In reserve and disposal She transferred to the
Maritime Administration on 5 December 1957 and joined the
National Defense Reserve Fleet at
Beaumont, Texas. She was struck from the
Naval Vessel Register on 1 February 1959, and disposed of by
MARAD (Trade-in-exchange) on 22 March 1982, and then scrapped in
Germany. == Awards==