USS Cimarron (AO-177)

Last updated
USS Cimarron (AO-177) off Apra Harbor pt 1983.jpeg
USS Cimarron before the jumboization, 1983
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameUSS Cimarron
Namesake Cimarron River
Awarded9 August 1976
Builder Avondale Shipyards
Laid down18 May 1978
Launched28 April 1979
Acquired15 December 1980
Commissioned10 January 1981
Decommissioned15 December 1998
Stricken3 May 1999
Identification IMO number:  7638430
Motto"First in Service"
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Displacement36,977 tons full load
Length708 ft (216 m)
Beam88 ft (27 m)
Draft32 ft (9.8 m)
PropulsionSteam Turbine
Speed21.8 kn (40.4 km/h)
Complement17 officers, 205 enlisted
Armament4 × .50-caliber Machine Guns

USS Cimarron (AO-177) was the lead ship of the Cimarron-class of fleet oilers of the United States Navy. Cimarron was built at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) starting in 1978 and was commissioned in 1981 for service in the Pacific Fleet. Commissioned 10 January 1981, in Oakland, California. The oiler was home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The total cost for the ship was $136.7 million.[ citation needed ]

Contents

USS Cimarron (AO-177) underway on 24 May 1985 USS Cimarron (AO-177) underway on 24 May 1985.jpeg
USS Cimarron (AO-177) underway on 24 May 1985

Jumboization

To increase the fueled load of the Cimarron-class oilers, it was decided in the late 1980s to lengthen the ships back in Avondale Shipyards. Cimarron became the first ship complete the so-called "jumboization" from August 1991 to September 1992. A 108-foot (33 m) mid-body section was added to the center of the ship. This mid-body increased fuel capacity by 30,000 barrels and added an ordnance cargo capability of 625 tons. The mid-body also featured an additional emergency diesel generator and two "Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method" (STREAM) cargo stations. Ballast and cargo transfer systems were fully automated and designed to effect safe and efficient transfer of bulk petroleum cargo. The new length of the ship was 216.0 m (708 ft 8 in).

USS Cimarron (AO-177) returns to Pearl Harbor on 2 August 1998 USS Cimarron (AO-177) returns to Pearl Harbor on 2 August 1998.jpeg
USS Cimarron (AO-177) returns to Pearl Harbor on 2 August 1998

Operational service

On 26 March 1993 following an emergent underway, Cimarron suffered a main steam leak and Main Reduction Gear (MRG) casualty. The backup Electric Lube Oil Service Pump (ELOP) was degraded and when the ship lost main steam, she subsequently lost MRG lube oil pressure. 18 of 30 journal bearings for the MRG, HP and LP turbines were wiped and Cimarron had to be towed back into Pearl Harbor by USS Salvor. Cimarron spent the summer from March 27 to September 27 in the shipyards repairing the MRG.

After the ship was in Long Beach, it was time to be underway on 15 November for more RAS training this time at sea with the USS Kansas City (AOR-3) off the coast of San Francisco, CA. Cimarron made the transit quickly and efficiently and was called upon to assist a sailing vessel in distress approximately 70 miles of the Northern California coast. Cimarron crewmembers acted as heroes that day as they launched the Rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) in 10–15 foot seas and rescued five crewmembers of the overturned sailboat. [1]

July 1990 - USS Cimarron (AO 177) rescues 25 refugees adrift southeast of Subic Bay, Philippines. [2]

In the early hours of 31 March 1994, Cimarron ran aground off Iroquois Point, Hawaii and despite efforts under her own power she had to request USS Salvor to remove her off the sand bar. The ship received only minor damage. In April 1994 she was underway to American Samoa to celebrate the island's Flag Day.

In November 1994, during ordnance on-load, a Fireman noticed a major leak in the lube oil service system. Investigation led to the discovery of corroded lube oil piping in the Steam Driven Lube Oil Service Pump (SLOP) discharge under the deckplates. Cimarron began repairs and deployment was delayed for two days. Also during this time, NIS investigations began due to rape allegations of a female Cimarron junior sailor against a male Cimarron officer. The investigation revealed other fraternization issues and a large investigation was conducted regarding the command climate. A total of 21 personnel were relieved of their duties.

However, to save expenses and in keeping with the Navy's move away from steam propulsion, the class was to be replaced by the diesel-powered Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler manned by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). Cimarron was decommissioned in 1998. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the following year and her title was transferred to the Maritime Administration. On 26 January 1999 she departed Pearl Harbor under tow and was placed in Suisun Bay, California, with the National Defense Reserve Fleet. She was sold for scrapping on October 1, 2012. The ship passed through the Panama Canal on 15 December 2012 on its way to a ESCO Marine in Brownsville, Texas for recycling.

Awards

Deployments

Cimarron laid up at Suisun Bay (third ship from the right). Aerial view of USS Iowa (BB-61) and other ships laid-up in Suisun Bay, California (USA), circa in the early 2000s.jpg
Cimarron laid up at Suisun Bay (third ship from the right).

Related Research Articles

USNS <i>Yukon</i> (T-AO-202) Oiler of the United States Navy

USNS Yukon (T-AO-202) is a Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler operated by the Military Sealift Command to support ships of the United States Navy.

USS <i>Vesuvius</i> (AE-15) Ammunition ship of the United States Navy

The fourth USS Vesuvius (AE-15) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington, N.C.; launched on 26 May 1944; acquired by the United States Navy on 4 July 1944; and commissioned on 16 January 1945.

USS <i>Cimarron</i> (AO-22) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Cimarron (AO-22) was a Cimarron-class oiler serving with the United States Navy and the second ship to be named for the Cimarron River in the Southwestern United States. She was launched 7 January 1939 by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Chester, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Mrs. William D. Leahy; and commissioned 20 March 1939.

USS <i>Neosho</i> (AO-23) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Neosho (AO-23) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler serving with the United States Navy, the second ship to be named for the Neosho River in Kansas and Oklahoma.

USS <i>Shasta</i> (AE-33) Ammunition ship of the United States Navy

USS Shasta (AE-33) was a Kilauea-class replenishment ammunition ship of the United States Navy. She was named after Mount Shasta, a volcano in the Cascade Range in northern California. Shasta's mission was to support forward deployed aircraft carrier battle groups, which she accomplished through underway replenishment and vertical replenishment. Over three decades, Shasta and her crew took part in the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Iran–Iraq War, Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm, and numerous other actions.

USS <i>Platte</i> (AO-24) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Platte (AO-24) was a Cimarron-class oiler serving with the United States Navy, named for the 1836 Platte Purchase that included the Platte Rivers in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. Her memorial in Platte County, Missouri honors all four rivers that share the name recorded by Lewis and Clark in 1803.

USS <i>Sabine</i> (AO-25) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Sabine (AO-25), a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler serving in the United States Navy, was the second ship named for the Sabine River on the Texas-Louisiana border.

USS <i>Willamette</i> (AO-180) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Willamette (AO-180) was the fourth ship in the Cimarron class of fleet replenishment oilers for the United States Navy in service from 1981 to 1999.

USS <i>Virgo</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Virgo (AKA-20) was an Andromeda class attack cargo ship of the United States Navy, named after the constellation Virgo. She was later converted to an ammunition ship and redesignated as (AE-30). She served as a commissioned ship for 22 years and 4 months.

USS <i>Neches</i> (AO-47) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Neches (AO-47) was a Kennebec-class oiler in the United States Navy during World War II and the Vietnam War. She was the second U.S. Navy ship named for the Neches River in eastern Texas.

USS <i>Manatee</i> (AO-58) Oiler of the United States Navy

The USS Manatee (AO-58)—the second vessel of the United States Navy to bear the name—was a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler named for a river in Florida. Cimarron-class oilers were named after American rivers in the Southern United States.

USS <i>Wabash</i> (AOR-5) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Wabash (AOR-5) was a Wichita-class replenishment oiler in the United States Navy from 1970 to 1994.

USS <i>Neshanic</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Neshanic (AO-71) is a former T3 Kennebec-class oiler constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the only U.S. Navy ship named for the Neshanic River in New Jersey.

USS <i>Caliente</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Caliente (AO-53) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler built during World War II for the U.S. Navy. During her career in the Pacific Ocean, Caliente participated in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. She was highly decorated for fulfilling her dangerous mission of carrying fuel into battle areas. She received ten battle stars for World War II, four for the Korean War and eight campaign stars for the Vietnam War.

USS <i>Mascoma</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Mascoma (AO-83) was a Escambia-class replenishment oiler constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She served her country in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For her very dangerous work under combat conditions, she was awarded seven battle stars by war's end.

USS <i>Tolovana</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Tolovana (AO-64) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For performing this dangerous task in combat areas, she was awarded one battle star during World War II, two during the Korean War, and thirteen campaign stars and the Navy Unit Commendation during the Vietnam War.

USS <i>Ashtabula</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Ashtabula (AO-51) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy in service from 1943 to 1991. She survived three wars and was awarded eight battle stars for World War II service, four battle stars for Korean War service, and eight campaign stars for Vietnam War service. In the mid-1960s Ashtabula became the lead ship of her class, when she and seven other Cimarron-class oilers were lengthened ("jumboized"). She has been the only U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Ashtabula, after the City of Ashtabula which was named after the Ashtabula River in northeast Ohio.

USS <i>Platte</i> (AO-186) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Platte (AO-186) was the fifth and last of the Cimarron-class ships built to carry cargo and bulk fuel to battle groups. She was homeported in Norfolk, Virginia and carried a crew of 180 -230 sailors as standard during her years of service.

USS <i>Neosho</i> (AO-143) Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Neosho (AO-143) was the lead ship of her class of fleet oilers of the United States Navy, in service from 1954 to the early 1990s.

USS <i>Navasota</i> Oiler of the United States Navy

USS Navasota (AO-106) was an Ashtabula-class replenishment oiler that served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1973, then transferred to the Military Sealift Command to continue service as United States Naval Ship USNS Navasota (T-AO-106) until taken out of service in 1992. Navasota was sold for scrapping in 1995. She was the only U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Navasota.

References

  1. "USS CIMARRON (A0-177) 1992, 1993, 1994 CHR_FINAL_Redacted" (PDF). www.history.navy.mil. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  2. "This Day In Naval History: July 25". MarineLink. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2024-02-17.