History
                             
           The USS Noxubee was named after a river in Mississippi.

                                                  Patapsco class Gasoline  Tanker
                                                  Displacement: 4,130 tons
                                                  Length: 311'
                                                  Beam: 49'
                                                  Draft: 14'6"
                                                  Speed: 15.5 knots (max); 8.8 knots (econ)
                                                  Armament: 4 3"/50 DP; 12 20 mm
                                                  Complement: 124
                                                  Capacity: Cargo DWT 2,120
                                                  Diesel electric engines, twin screws, 3,300 hp
                                                  Commissioned 1945

                                  ______________________________________________
                                   April 3, 1945  launched at Savage, Minnesota by Cargill Inc.

                                   October 19, 1945 Commissioned at New Orleans, Louisiana

                                   April 25, 1946 home ported at Norfolk, Virginia

                                   November, 1947 home ported at Newport Rhode Island

                                   March 6, 1959 decommissioned

                                   July 1, 1960 transferred to the Maritime Administration

                                   September 10, 1966 recommissioned for Vietnam War

                                   November 8, 1966 ported Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

                                   September 8, 1969   Viet Cong blew open the hull at Cua Viet River, 
                                   Viet Nam

                                   1970 ported Little Creek, Virginia

                                   July 1, 1975 stricken from the navy.  Final Voyage

                                   During her long 30 history the Noxubee made her presence
                                   know from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

Noxubee Crest

Symbolism of the Ship's Shield
The sea-horse stands for service at sea. It is closely associated with Neptune the mythical god of the oceans who according to legend created the horse and presented it to humankind as a gift. The symbolism of the sea-horse is well known and used by many Mediterranean countries. It's predominant place on the shield alludes to Noxubee's many deployments to the Mediterranean Sea.

On the shield, the wavy diagonal line represents Noxubee's namesake, a river in Mississippi. The red symbol, a water boget, represents the ship's mission as a fuel carrier. The symbol consists of two leather pouches connected by a wooden yoke. It dates back to medieval times and was used to carry liquids used in warfare. The golden drops represent various types of liquid petroleum carried by the ship. The shade of blue used throughout is called Celestial Blue and is the color of aviation fuel.

While in Baltimore as part of the reactivation crew, LTJG Bob Varanko, a NY Maritime Academy graduate, designed the ship's shield.