UNDERWAY-REPLENISHMENT SHIPS (Military Weapons)

Cimarron (AO 177)

These five fleet oilers are designed to provide two complete refuelings to a conventional aircraft carrier and six to eight accompanying escort ships. As completed, they proved too small and were stretched 108 ft (32.9 m) to increase petroleum product capacity by 50%. After their “jumboizing,” the Cim-arrons carry 183,000 barrels of petroleum products—F76 (DFM) marine fuel and F44 (JP-5) gas turbine fuel. Five Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method (STREAM) fuel delivery rigs are arranged in pairs at the forecastle break and near the superstructure face; a third portside STREAM rig was added during the jumboization. The stretched Cimarrons can transfer up to
9,000 US gal/min (34,065 liters/min) of
JP-5 and 15,000 US gal/min (56,775
liters/min) of DFM.
Original Navy manning was to be approximately 135; it was increased to pro-
vide improved maintenance self-sufficiency for prolonged deployments.

Avondale also fitted AN/SLQ-32(V)1

and AN/SLQ-32 Nixie Electronic Warfare (EW) systems in the ships during the jumboizing.

DEVELOPMENT •

These ships were built by Avondale Shipyards of Westwego, Louisiana, from 1978 to 1983. In 1988, the same yard began stretching the five-ship class, delivering the last one (Platte) in December 1992.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE •

Cimarron operated with the Independence’s (CV 62) battle group (AO 177) from the beginning of Operation Desert Shield until November 1990, when the battle group was relieved by that of the Midway (CV 41). Platte supported the Theodore Roosevelt’s (CVN 71) battle group from January
to April 1991.


SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 37,866 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 708 ft 6 in (215.95 m)
beam 88 ft (26.8 m)
draft 33 ft 6 in (10.2m)
MACHINERY 2 Combustion Engineering boilers, 1 steam turbine, 24,000 shp on 1 shaft-19.4 kts, electric power 8,250 kW
CREW 212
HELICOPTERS landing platform
WEAPONS
2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type CIWS in AO 178-180, 186
SENSORS
SPS-10B or SPS-55 surface-search radar 1 navigation radar SLQ-32(V)1 passive EW system SLQ-25 torpedo decoy

Henry/, Kaiser (T-AO 187)

These fleet oilers are based on the earlier Cimarron (AO 177) design but are being built to civilian specifications and are intended for civilian (Maritime Sealift Command/MSC) manning. Compared to the Cimarrons, the Kaisers are longer and beamier and are propelled by diesels instead of a single steam turbine. In addition, Kaiser-class ships have outside single staterooms for all permanent crew members; the crew also have a gymnasium, hobby shop, and library.
These are midsize petroleum carriers with a 180,000-barreI cargo capacity, divided between F76 marine distillate (DFM) and F44 jet fuel (JP-5). A 60% DFM/40% JP-5 load proportion is typical, but tankage can be converted to a maximum of 70% DFM or a maximum of 52% jet fuel. These ships have five Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method (STREAM) fuel delivery rigs with a delivery capacity of 9,000 US gal/min (34,065 liters/min) ofJP-5 and
15,000 US gal/min (56,775 liters/min) of DFM.
Water tankage includes 88,000 US gal
(333,080 liters) offeed water and 105,000 US gal (397,425 liters) ofpotable water as

well as 25,000 US gal (94,625 liters) of lube oil.

These ships have a limited Underway Replenishment (UNREP) capacity for dry stores as well as fuels, using a pair of Cargo STREAM 10-ton-capacity rigs. As lead ship in the class, the T-AO 187 suffered from several problems that were resolved during shakedown trials. Vibration levels were excessive at higher speeds, and general vibration levels were unsatisfactory as well. Reduction gears and their bearings suffered from alignment, problems and backlash. PTO bearings wore quickly, fuel oil injectors and pumps did not work properly, and several items of underway replenishment, equipment were not acceptable.
Space and weight are reserved for the AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo counter-measures, and 20-mm Phalanx Close-in Weapons System (CIWS) mounts could be fitted for wartime service.

DEVELOPMENT •

The lead ship was laid down by Avondale on August 29, 1984, and delivered in 1987. Avondale built all but four of the 18 ships in the class. Pennsylvania Shipbuilding had won contracts for the others but proved unable to complete any of them. Avondale finished the John Ericsson and Kanawha, while Tampa Ship took over construction of the Benjamin Isherwood and Henry Eckford. In September 1993, however, the Navy canceled its contract with Tampa Ship because of the yard’s lack of progress and financial problems, and the ships were left incomplete.
The Kaiser and the Higgins were ticketed for inactivation in FY1995 as part of the scaling-down of the US fleet.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE •

Five Kaiw class oilers supported Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The Henry J. Kaiser, Joshua Humphreys, and John Lenthall re-fueled ships in the Mediterranean and Red Sea; the Kaiser conducted 188 underway refuelings altogether. The Humphreys operated in the Desert Shield theater of operations from January 15, 1991, to April 23. TheAndrewJ. Higginssupported the Independence’s (CV 62) battle group from September to November 1990 and conducted many other subsequent re-fuelings. The Walter S. Diehl sailed with the Midway’s (CV 41) battle group.

SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 40,700 tons full load (27,761 tons deadweight)
DIMENSIONS
length 677 ft 6 in (206.6 m)
overall
beam 97 ft 6 in (29.7 m)
draft 35ft (10.7m)
MACHINERY 2 Colt-Pielstick 10P C4.2V
diesels, 32,000 blip on 2 shafts=20
kts, range 6,000 nm at 20 kts, electric
power 10,600 kW CREW 98 civilian + 21 Navy HELICOPTERS landing area SENSORS 2 navigation radars

Kilauea (AE26)

These high-capability ammunition-resupply ships are especially tailored for underway replenishment. The Kilauea design provides for the ship’s main cargo spaces forward of the superstructure with a helicopter landing area aft. Six constant-tension replenishment stations stand in a kingpost frame forward, side-by-side rigs farther aft, and staggered rigs near the superstructure. Some stations have been deactivated to permit a reduction in crew.
The after superstructure holds a helicopter hangar for two UH-46 Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) helicopters. Cargo capacity is approximately 6,500 tons.
As built, the ships had eight 3-in guns in twin mounts with two Mk 56 gunfire control systems. Kilauea. lost her guns when she transferred to the Military Sea-lift Command (MSC). The others saw the armament cut in half; the last four then received two Phalanx Close-in Weapons System (CIWS) mounts each.

DEVELOPMENT •

These ships were funded over four fiscal years (1965-68) in groups of two. Bethlehem in Quincy, Massachusetts, built the first two; Bethlehem, Sparrows Point, Maryland, the second pair, and Litton’s Ingalls yard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, constructed the last four. They entered service from 1968 to 1972.
Kilauea was transferred to the Military Sealift Command in October 1980. She is officially a United States Naval Ship (USNS) and has a civilian crew.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE •

Six of the class were deployed to the Persian Gulf region as part of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Flint was already in the Indian Ocean with the carrier Independence’s (CV 62) battle group when the Iraqi invasion occurred. She entered what was later designated as the Desert Shield/Storm Theater of Operations on August 5, 1990, remaining on station until November 4. After a rapid turnaround on the West Coast, the Flint reentered the theater on January 21, 1991, and operated in the area until mid-March.
The Kiska operated with the Midway’s (CV 41) battle group in the Desert Storm theater from November 2,1990, to March 14, 1991. The Shasta sailed from the West Coast with the Ranger’s (CV 61) battle group in December 1990, arriving in the theater on January 13, 1991, not leaving until April 29.
The Santa Barbaras tour with the Theodore Roosevelt$ (CVN 71) battle group included service in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean from mid-January 1991 to the beginning of June.
The Mount Hood was not attached to a particular battle group. She arrived in the theater on February 1, 1991, and departed on March 13.
The Kilauea operated in a shuttle between the Persian Gulf and the northern Arabian Sea from September 3, 1990, to March 8, 1991.

SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 19,937 tons full load (8,593 tons deadweight)
DIMENSIONS
length 564 ft (172.0 m) overall
beam 81 ft (24.7 m)
draft 25 ft 9 in (7.8m)
MACHINERY 3 600-psi Foster “Wheeler boilers, 1 General Electric steam turbine, 22,000 shp on 1 shaft=22 kts (20 kts sustained), range 18,000 nm at 11 kts, 10,000 nm at 20 kts, electric
power 5,500 kW
CREW navy ships 385; Kilauea 123 civilian + 37 Navy
WEAPONS
4 Mk 33 3-in (76-mm)/50-cal guns in
twin mounts (except none in Kilauea}
2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS in AE
32-35
2 12.7-mm machine guns in Kilauea HELICOPTERS 2 UH-46 Sea Knight
SENSORS
1 SPS-10 surface-search radar SLQ-32(V) 1 passive/active EW system
2 6-barrel Mk 36 SRBOC chaff
launchers

Mars (AFS 1)

These seven large, built-for-the-purpose underway-replenishment ships combine the capabilities of store ships (AF), stores-issue ships (AKS), and aviation store ships (AVS). They were among the first to be ordered of the large fleet of underway-replenishment ships procured during the 1960s. Five cargo holds (one refrigerated) have a 7,000-ton cargo capacity and a total volume of 586,118 ft3 (16,597 m3). Fore to aft, the holds contain: (1) spare parts, (2) aviation parts, (3 and 4) provisions, and (5) spare parts. 40,000 bins and racks carry up to 25,000 types of spare parts. The holds are served by five M-shaped cargo masts (three forward, two aft) with constant-tension gear. Ahead of the large helicopter deck over the fantail is the hangar for two utility helicopters.
These ships entered service armed with four 3-in twin gun mounts. Half of these mounts were deleted from all ships but the WhitePlains during the late 1970s; all ships lost their Mk 56 gunfire control system as well as their SPS-40 air-search radar. In the mid-1980s, the WhitePlains beached two of her mounts in favor of two Phalanx Close-in Weapons Systems (CIWS).

DEVELOPMENT •

Construction of the class lasted from 1962 to 1970 at National Steel and Shipbuilding in San Diego.
NASSCO won the order for the Mars in July 1961; the other six ships followed at the rate of one per fiscal year (except FY1963).
The Niagara Falls, White Plains, and San /#$£ are homeported in Guam.
Three additional ships originally planned for the FY1977-78 shipbuilding programs were not requested.
In FY1993, ships of this class began transferring to Military Sealift Command (MSC) control, where they would have civilian crews. The Mars, Sylvania, San Diego, and Concord were the first to be reassigned.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE •

The San Jose was the first ship to assist the Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) after she struck a mine in the Persian Gulf in 1988.
All but one of the Mars ships deployed to the Desert Storm theater at some point during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The White Plains operated with the Independences (CV 62) carrier battle group from August 17 to October 15, 1990, The San Jose served the longest period in the theater, arriving September 24, 1990, and leaving March 13, 1991.
The Sylvania had two tours—October 8-13, 1990, andJanuarys-February 17, 1991—during which her crew delivered 20,500 tons of supplies fin effect, three full shiploads), once resupplying four ships simultaneously, and filled more than 30,000 requisitions. Her helicopters transferred another 5,000 tons of supplies.
The Mars operated in the region from December 21, 1990, to March 22, 1991, the Niagara Falls: from January 15, 1991, to the end of March, and the San Diego from January 14, 1991, to April 6.

SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 16,070 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 581 ft 3 in (177.3m)
overall
beam 79ft (24.1 m),
draft 24 ft (7.3 m)
MACHINERY 3 Babcock & Wilcox
boilers, 1 steam turbine (De Laval except Westinghouse in AFS 6), 22,000
shp on 1 shaft=21 kts, range 18,000 nm at 11 kts, 10,000 nm at 20 kts, electric power 4,800 kW CREW 435
WEAPONS
2 twin Mk 33 3-in (76-mm)/50-cal AA
gun mounts 2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Catling
CIWS mounts in AFS 4 HELICOPTERS 2 UH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
SENSORS
1 SPS-10 surface-search radar

SLQ-32(V) 1 passive EW system Scrcrcrmenfo (AOE 1)

These are the world’s largest Underway Replenishment (UNREP) ships, designed to provide a carrier battle group with full fuels, munitions, dry and frozen provisions, and other supplies. They are
also among the fastest naval auxiliaries in commission.
These ships can carry 194,000 barrels of fuels (more than the Kaiser- and Cimorrow-class oilers) ,2,100 tons ofmuni-tions and 250 tons each of dry and refrigerated stores. Between the superstructure blocks is a forest of cargo transfer rigs, alternating between long-armed fuel hose rigs and shorter stores and ammunition derricks. All are constant-tension devices.
A large helicopter deck extends aft of a three-bay hangar for UH-46 Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) helicopters.
The canceled /ou/o-class battleship Kentucky (BB 66) supplied propulsion machinery for the first two ships, while her barely started sister Illinois (BB 65) produced machinery for AOE 3 and 4.
The octuple Sea Sparrow short-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launcher is forward of the bridge. The 2 Phalanx

Close-In Weapons System (CIWS)

mounts are fitted up in the after superstructure, abaft and outboard of the stack.

DEVELOPMENT *

Puget Sound Navy
Yard built all but the Seattle, which was delivered by New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey. The Seattle, delivered in 1968, was the last ship completed by New York Ship, and the Detroit, delivered in 1970, represents the last new construction by Puget Sound Navy Yard.
A fifth ship of this design was originally planned for the FY1968 shipbuilding program and subsequently for the FY1980 shipbuilding program, but the ship was never built. Instead, the smaller and less expensive Wichita (AOR 1) design was developed.
The later Supply class (AOE 6) is somewhat smaller and powered by gas turbine engines.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE •

Three of the
four ships in the class supported US and
coalition navy fleets during Operations
Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Sacramento sailed with the battleship Mis-sour? s (BB 63) surface action group, arriving in the region on January 1,1991, and leaving on March 24. The Seattle supported the carrier battle group headed by the John F. Kennedy (CV 67); she arrived on September 14, 1990, and departed March 11,1991. The Detroit operated with the Saratoga (CV 60) and her battle group, which deployed in the region three separate times: August 24-September 21, 1990, November 7-December 16, 1990, and January 6—
March 6, 1991.
The Camden supported the carrier Nim-itz (CVN 68) and her battle group, which relieved forces in the Persian Gulf in
April 1991.

SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 53,600 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 794 ft 9 in (242.4 m)
overall
beam 107 ft (32.6m)
draft 39 ft 4 in (12.0m)
MACHINERY 4 Combustion Engineering boilers, 2 General Electric steam turbines, 100,000 shp on 2 shaftsA 27.5 kts (26 kts sustained), range
10,000 nm at 17 kts, 6,000 nm at 26 kts
CREW 594-612
WEAPONS
8-tube NATO Sea Sparrow launcher
Mk29
2 Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type CIWS
HELICOPTERS 2 UH-46 Sea Knight
SENSORS
SPS-40 air-search radar in AOE 1, 2
SPS-53 surface-search radar
Mk 91 Sea-Sparrow missile fire control system
Mk 23 Target Acquisition System (TAS) Mod 2 in Seattle
SPS-10 surface-search radar
SLQ-32(V)3 active/passive EW system

Supply (AOE 6)

These are large Underway Replenishment (UNREP) ships designed to provide a carrier battle group with fuels, munitions, provisions, and other supplies. They are based on the design of the slightly larger Sacramento (AOE 1)-class fast combat support ships but have gas turbine propulsion instead of steam turbine.
The profile is of a flush-deck hull with a split superstructure. A large helicopter deck extends aft of a large three-bay hangar for UH-46 Sea Knight Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) helicopters.
These ships can carry 156,000 barrels of fuels, 1,800 tons of munitions, 250 tons of dry stores, and 400 tons of refrigerated stores. They have highly automated cargo-handling equipment.
The first name for the AOE 7 was later seen as more properly belonging to a destroyer (DDG 60), and Rainierwas substituted. Considering the names of the first three ships, the naming pattern for this class is inscrutable.

DEVELOPMENT •

The Navy had planned the construction of at least seven AOEs of this class, but rising costs, serious delays, and construction problems, as well as a declining active fleet, seem likely to abbreviate the program at the four authorized by 1994. National
Steel won the AOE 6 contract in 1987 with an option for three additional ships. The Navy exercised options on AOE 7 and AOE 8 in 1988 and 1989.
NASSCO had difficulty completing the first two ships, with some reports claiming that the company underbid the ships and could not make a profit. In September 1991, the General Accounting Office (GAO) noted that planned delivery dates had slipped by almost two years in the case of the Supply, 13 months for the Rainier, and 10 months for the Arctic. The delay stemmed primarily from problems with the reversing reduction gears, which were a new design being manufactured by Cincinnati Gear Co.
When funding for the AOE 9 was withdrawn from the FY1992 budget, NASSCO’s option expired. As often happens with canceled hull numbers, the Navy skipped to AOE 10 for the FY1993 ship (effectively the FY1992 ship delayed a year) rather than reusing the canceled hull number.

SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 48,800 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
Length 755 ft (230.1 m) overall
beam 107 ft (32.6 m)
draft 39ft (11.9m)
MACHINERY 4 General Electric LM
2500 gas turbines, 100,000 shp on 2
shafts=26 kts, electric power 12,500
kW CREW 660
WEAPONS
1 8-cell Mk 29 launcher for NATO Sea Sparrow SAM
2 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type
CIWS
2 25-mm Mk 88 Chain Gun AA in twin mount HELICOPTERS 3 UH-46 Sea Knight
SENSORS
SPS-67 air/surface-search radar SPS-64(V)9 navigation radar Mk 91 missile fire control system Mk 23 Target Acquisition System SLQ-32(V)3 passive/active EW system
4 6-barrel Mk 36 SRBOC chaff/flare
launchers

SuriJbcrchi(AE21)

These ships were the first to be designed specifically for underway replenishment of munitions. Cargo capacity is 7,500 tons and is handled by three large kingpost masts (two forward, one aft). The profile has an almost straight stem, short forecastle, single block superstructure with a slender tapered stack amidships, canoe-shaped stern, and long helicopter platform.
All five ships were extensively modernized during the 1960s. They were fitted to carry and transfer guided missiles; their after 3-in gun mounts were removed and a helicopter deck installed. The three later ships are also referred to as the Nitro class.

DEVELOPMENT •

These were among
the first post-World War II auxiliaries to be authorized, the Suribachi and Mauna Kea being ordered from Bethlehem’s Sparrows Point, Maryland, yard in 1954. Nitro and Pyro followed in 1957 and Hale-akalain 1958. Deliveries came in 1957-59.
Pyro was the first to be decommissioned, leaving the active fleet in FY1994. The Haleakalawds homeported in Guam.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE •

The Suribachi, Nitro, and Haleakala deployed to the Persian Gulf region as part of Operation Desert Shield. The Suribachi moved with the carrier Eisenhower’s (CVN 69) battle group from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea in August 1990.
Nitro sailed with the carrier America’s (CV 66) battle group in December 1990, arriving in the theater on January 10, 1991. She operated with the battle group until it left the theater on April 10, 1991.
The Haleakala was independently deployed from Guam on January 22, 1991, and arrived in the theater on February 9. She resupplied ships in the region until March 14.

SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 17,500 tons full load (AE 21, 22); 17,450 tons full load (AE 23-25)
DIMENSIONS
length 512 ft (156.1 m) overall
beam 72 ft (22-0 m)
draft 29 ft (8.8 m)
MACHINERY 2 Combustion Engineering boilers, 1 steam turbine supplied by the builder, 16,000 shp on 1 shaft-20.6 kts,
range 12,000 nm at 15 kts, 10,000 nm at 20 kts CREW 348
WEAPONS
4 3-inch (76-mm)/50-cal Mk 33 AA in twin mounts
HELICOPTERS landing area only
SENSORS SPS-10 surface-search radar SLQ-32(V)1 passive EW system in some ships

Wichita (AOR 1)

These are large combination petroleum-munitions Underway Replenishment (UNREP) ships, smaller and slower than the Sacramento (AOE 1) class, but still larger than any foreign ship other than the Soviet replenishment oiler Berezina.
They resemble the Sacramentos, having the same split-superstructure layout, helicopter flight deck aft, and array of transfer rigs amidships. There are many detail differences, however. The ships can steam at 18 knots on two boilers while the third is being maintained.
These ships can carry 160,000 barrels of petroleum, 600 tons of munitions, 200 tons of dry stores, and 100 tons of refrigerated stores. Except for the forward station, which is a single liquid-stores derrick extending to port, all stations serve both sides. An upright solid-stores frame with port and starboard stations is followed by two liquid-stores frames (long arms joined by truss girder), another solid stores frame, and a final liquid-stores station structure.
All ships except the Roanokewere built with helicopter decks but without hangars; all later received two-bay hangars. Installation of the hangars led to striking the two twin 3-in/50-cal twin antiaircraft gun mounts aft and the Mk 56 gunfire control system. Several ships received the 20-mm Phalanx Gatling-type Close-in Weapons System (CIWS).

DEVELOPMENT •

Bethlehem’s Quincy, Massachusetts, yard built the first six ships, receiving contracts in 1965-67 and completing the orders in 1969-73.
NASSCO began the Roanokein 1974 and
delivered her in 1976.
The Wichita and Milwaukee were the first to be mothballed, being decommissioned in FY1993; the Wabash followed in FY1994.

COMBAT EXPERIENCE •

Three of the class supported US and coalition navy operations during the 1990-91 Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Kansas City sailed with the carrier Ranger’s (CV 61) battle group, operating in the Desert Storm theater from January 13, 1991, to April 19. The Savannah’s visit to the region lasted only from October 8 to 13, 1990. The Kalamazoo supported the carrier America’s (CV 66) battle group from January 15, 1991, to March 30.

SPECIFICATIONS •

DISPLACEMENT 41,350 tons full load
DIMENSIONS
length 659 ft (201.0 m) overall beam 96 ft (29.3 m)
draft 33 ft 4 in (10.2m)
MACHINERY 3 Foster Wheeler boilers, 2 General Electric steam turbines, 32,000 shp on 2 shafts=20 kts, range 10,000 nm at 17 kts, 6,500 nm at 20 kts, electric power 8,000 kW
CREW approx 450
WEAPONS
1 NATO Sea Sparrow launcher Mk 29 except in Wichita 20-mm Mk 15 Phalanx Gatling-type CIWS except in Wichita HELICOPTERS 2 UH-46 Sea Knight SENSORS SPS-10 surface-search radar LN-66 or SPS-53 surface-search radar Mk 91 missile fire control system except in Wichita Mk 23 Mod 2 TAS in Kalamazoo SLQ-32(V)3 passive/active EW system

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