The Cimarron class of
fleet oilers (AO) was introduced in the early 1980s but their design proved to be too small to satisfy the Navy needs so the ships were cut into two sections and a third about 35.7 m long was added in order to increase the fuel load. Further ten planned ships were cancelled and the more capable
Henry J. Kaiser class was build instead
1976-aug-09 | Ordered | Ordered AO 177 USS Cimarron | |
1976-aug-09 | Ordered | Ordered AO 178 USS Monongahela | |
1977-jun-25 | Ordered | Ordered AO 179 USS Merrimack | |
1978-apr-11 | Ordered | Ordered AO 180 USS Willamette | |
1978-apr-11 | Ordered | Ordered AO 186 USS Platte | |
1978-may-18 | Laid down | Laid down AO 177 USS Cimarron | |
1979-apr-28 | Launched | Launched AO 177 USS Cimarron | |
1979-jul-16 | Laid down | Laid down AO 179 USS Merrimack | |
1980-may-17 | Launched | Launched AO 179 USS Merrimack | |
1980-aug-04 | Laid down | Laid down AO 180 USS Willamette | |
1981-jan-10 | Commissioned | Commissioned AO 177 USS Cimarron | |
1981-feb-02 | Laid down | Laid down AO 186 USS Platte | |
1981-jul-18 | Launched | Launched AO 180 USS Willamette | |
1981-sep-05 | Commissioned | Commissioned AO 178 USS Monongahela | |
1981-nov-14 | Commissioned | Commissioned AO 179 USS Merrimack | |
1982-jan-30 | Launched | Launched AO 186 USS Platte | |
1982-dec-18 | Commissioned | Commissioned AO 180 USS Willamette | |
1983-jan-27 | Commissioned | Commissioned AO 186 USS Platte | |
1983-dec-20 | Aircraft | Aircraft AO 179 USS Merrimack CH-46 156423 accident off Beirut | |
1985-jan-15 | | AO 180 USS Willamette First WestPAC by the Willamette departure date was 15Jan85. Ports visited were Guam, the Philipines, Hong Kong, Sasebo Japan, Kagoshima Japan, Shimoda Japan, and Yokuska Japan. | |
1995-jun-29 | | AO 180 USS Willamette Being moored at Pearl Harbour suffered a boiler explosion | |
1998-dec-15 | Decommissioned | Decommissioned AO 177 USS Cimarron | |
1998-dec-18 | Decommissioned | Decommissioned AO 179 USS Merrimack to National Defense Reserve Fleet | |
1999-apr-30 | Decommissioned | Decommissioned AO 180 USS Willamette to Naval Defense Reserve Fleet | |
1999-may-03 | Struck | Struck AO 177 USS Cimarron to National Defense Reserve Fleet | |
1999-jun-30 | Decommissioned | Decommissioned AO 178 USS Monongahela | |
1999-jun-30 | Decommissioned | Decommissioned AO 186 USS Platte to Naval Defense Reserve Fleet | |