USNS Cimarron (T-AO 177) Class: Photographs

USNS Platte (T-AO 186)

Underway on 15 December 1982 in the Gulf of Mexico during sea trials.

Photo No. DN-SN-83-06898
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Cimarron (T-AO 177)

Off Apra Harbor, Guam, on 21 March 1983 with hoses rigged on four fueling stations and probably on the fifth. These ships had two fueling stations to starboard for escorts and three to port for carriers and other large ships. The two uprights amidships without hoses are non-tensioned cargo transfer stations.

Photo No. DN-SC-90-07716
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Platte (T-AO 186)

Underway in the Atlantic in October 1984 with her two CIWS automated close-in weapon system mounts visible, one forward and one aft.

Photo No. DN-SC-87-08428
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Merrimack (T-AO 179)

Merrimack refueling the battleship Iowa (BB 61) in the Atlantic in a view dated 1 November 1985. Fueling rigs are over from the oiler's forward and after port stations.

Photo No. DN-SC-87-05148
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Willamette (T-AO 180)

A deck view dated 1 July 1986 taken during a midshipmen's summer training cruise that shows three of her five refueling stations and her two non-tensioned cargo stations. It also shows the winches for the stations and the booms on the cargo stations. This cargo deck completely covers the main deck, which had the usual tanker tank tops and fuel transfer piping. Parts of the side of the ship between the cargo and main decks are open.

Photo No. DN-ST-87-03009
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Willamette (T-AO 180)

A near stern view dated 1 July 1986 taken during a midshipmen's summer training cruise that shows the location of the after CWIS mount on this and the other two ships of the class (Merrimack and Platte) that received it.

Photo No. DN-ST-87-03010
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Willamette (T-AO 180)

A near bow view dated 1 July 1986 taken during a midshipmen's summer training cruise that emphasizes the height of the superstructure aft. Note also the CIWS mount on the forecastle.

Photo No. DN-ST-87-03013
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Monongahela (T-AO 178)

A near stern view taken in the Atlantic on 6 June 1989 showing the after deckhouse and stack towering over the stern flight deck. Note that she has no CIWS installation.

Photo No. DN-SC-90-11769
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Willamette (T-AO 180)

The bow section of the ship under tow in the Mississippi River on 24 September 1990 after separation from the rest of the ship at the Avondale Industries shipyard in Avondale, La., to permit the insertion of a new mid-section during the jumboization of the ship. After the bow was reattached to the front of the mid-section the transfer stations on it were moved aft onto the mid-section.

Photo No. None (shipyard progress photo)
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)

USNS Merrimack (T-AO 179)

Underway off the Virginia Capes on 21 June 1991 after jumboization. Note that the after opening in the hull side between the cargo and main decks is now much longer than the forward opening because of the insertion of a new 109-foot mid-body. In the original ship the after opening was slightly shorter than the forward opening. Another recognition feature of the jumboized ships was the long deck without uprights forward. The two cargo transfer stations are now of the "Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method" (STREAM) type with sliding blocks.

Photo No. DN-ST-91-11878
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)

USNS Platte (T-AO 186)

The jumboized ship in Hampton Roads on 1 November 1996 returning from a Mediterranean deployment. Note the two CIWS mounts inherited from the original ship and the large number of containers on deck. The jumboization included tiedowns for 21 cargo containers including 3 refrigerated but on this transit voyage she is carrying a few more along with some military vehicles on the flight deck.

Photo No. DN-SC-98-01627
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)

USNS Cimarron (T-AO 177)

The jumboized ship returning to Hawaii on 2 August 1998 at the end of exercise RIMPAC '98 and within months of the end of her career. This ship and Monongahela never received the CIWS system.

Photo No. DN-SD-00-01207
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USNS Platte (T-AO 186) Underway on 15 December 1982 in the Gulf of Mexico during sea trials. Photo No. DN-SN-83-06898 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Cimarron (T-AO 177) Off Apra Harbor, Guam, on 21 March 1983 with hoses rigged on four fueling stations and probably on the fifth. These ships had two fueling stations to starboard for escorts and three to port for carriers and other large ships. The two uprights amidships without hoses are non-tensioned cargo transfer stations. Photo No. DN-SC-90-07716 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Platte (T-AO 186) Underway in the Atlantic in October 1984 with her two CIWS automated close-in weapon system mounts visible, one forward and one aft. Photo No. DN-SC-87-08428 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Merrimack (T-AO 179) Merrimack refueling the battleship Iowa (BB 61) in the Atlantic in a view dated 1 November 1985. Fueling rigs are over from the oiler's forward and after port stations. Photo No. DN-SC-87-05148 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Willamette (T-AO 180) A deck view dated 1 July 1986 taken during a midshipmen's summer training cruise that shows three of her five refueling stations and her two non-tensioned cargo stations. It also shows the winches for the stations and the booms on the cargo stations. This cargo deck completely covers the main deck, which had the usual tanker tank tops and fuel transfer piping. Parts of the side of the ship between the cargo and main decks are open. Photo No. DN-ST-87-03009 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Willamette (T-AO 180) A near stern view dated 1 July 1986 taken during a midshipmen's summer training cruise that shows the location of the after CWIS mount on this and the other two ships of the class (Merrimack and Platte) that received it. Photo No. DN-ST-87-03010 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Willamette (T-AO 180) A near bow view dated 1 July 1986 taken during a midshipmen's summer training cruise that emphasizes the height of the superstructure aft. Note also the CIWS mount on the forecastle. Photo No. DN-ST-87-03013 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Monongahela (T-AO 178) A near stern view taken in the Atlantic on 6 June 1989 showing the after deckhouse and stack towering over the stern flight deck. Note that she has no CIWS installation. Photo No. DN-SC-90-11769 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USNS Willamette (T-AO 180) The bow section of the ship under tow in the Mississippi River on 24 September 1990 after separation from the rest of the ship at the Avondale Industries shipyard in Avondale, La., to permit the insertion of a new mid-section during the jumboization of the ship. After the bow was reattached to the front of the mid-section the transfer stations on it were moved aft onto the mid-section. Photo No. None (shipyard progress photo) Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
USNS Merrimack (T-AO 179) Underway off the Virginia Capes on 21 June 1991 after jumboization. Note that the after opening in the hull side between the cargo and main decks is now much longer than the forward opening because of the insertion of a new 109-foot mid-body. In the original ship the after opening was slightly shorter than the forward opening. Another recognition feature of the jumboized ships was the long deck without uprights forward. The two cargo transfer stations are now of the "Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method" (STREAM) type with sliding blocks. Photo No. DN-ST-91-11878 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
USNS Platte (T-AO 186) The jumboized ship in Hampton Roads on 1 November 1996 returning from a Mediterranean deployment. Note the two CIWS mounts inherited from the original ship and the large number of containers on deck. The jumboization included tiedowns for 21 cargo containers including 3 refrigerated but on this transit voyage she is carrying a few more along with some military vehicles on the flight deck. Photo No. DN-SC-98-01627 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
USNS Cimarron (T-AO 177) The jumboized ship returning to Hawaii on 2 August 1998 at the end of exercise RIMPAC '98 and within months of the end of her career. This ship and Monongahela never received the CIWS system. Photo No. DN-SD-00-01207 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)