USS ''Platte'' (AO-186) was the fifth and last of the
''Cimarron''-class ships
A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished ...
built to carry cargo and bulk fuel to battle groups. She was homeported in
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
and carried a crew of 180 -230 sailors as standard during her years of service.
''Platte'' derived her name from the
Platte River
The Platte River () is a major river in the State of Nebraska. It is about long; measured to its farthest source via its tributary, the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which itself ...
. Her contract was awarded 11 April 1978 and she was built at
Avondale Shipyard Avondale Shipyard was an independent shipbuilding company, acquired by Litton Industries, in turn acquired by Northrop Grumman Corporation. In 2011, along with the former Ingalls Shipbuilding, the yard was part of Huntington Ingalls Industries. It ...
in
. Her keel was laid 2 February 1981, and launched 30 January 1982. ''Platte'' was commissioned on 16 April 1983.
Her most notable historical event was the collision with the approximately 500 miles east of
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
on 19 April 1989. This event was reported in the media, however it was overshadowed by a major naval disaster that occurred the same day. That was the day the
turret 2 exploded killing 47 sailors off the coast of
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
.
Between May 1989 – May 1994 she transited the
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...
four times (three times west to east and once east to west.)
She departed Norfolk, Virginia 28 December 1990 en route to
Desert Shield
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
support. Before she made the turn into the
Straits of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz ( fa, تنگه هرمز ''Tangeh-ye Hormoz'' ar, مَضيق هُرمُز ''Maḍīq Hurmuz'') is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the o ...
, the shield became a storm and she fueled ships as the "Fifth and Finest Fleet Oiler" before becoming the "Preferred Oiler of the Persian Gulf.". She returned to Norfolk 28 June 1991 from
Desert Storm
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...
.
In February 1992 she departed Norfolk, Virginia and returned to Avondale Shipyard. Between February and December ''Platte'' was "jumboized", meaning that, after cutting the ship into two sections, a 35.7 m long section was added to increase the fuel load. The new "mid-body" section included an ammunition elevator, a second
Fairbanks Morse
Fairbanks, Morse and Company was an American manufacturing company in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally a weighing scale manufacturer, it later diversified into pumps, engines, windmills, coffee grinders, radios, farm tractors, fee ...
emergency diesel generator, additional a/c capabilities as well as several cargo holds. She departed Avondale Shipyard December 1992 being the last of the five ships to undergo this process and completing it in 10 months.
At commissioning she was 88 feet wide at her beam, 216 m (700 ft) long, displaced approx 37,000 tons at a speed of 19 knots. Propulsion was two steam boilers (automated steam) to one propeller. Her draft was 32 feet.
In 1991 she circumnavigated
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
escorting the aircraft carrier to its west coast home port after leaving the shipyards in Norfolk, Va.
She was decommissioned 30 June 1999 and placed in the
James River Reserve Fleet
The James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF) is located on the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia at () near Fort Eustis. James River Reserve Fleet, a "ghost fleet,", is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The Reserve Fleet ships in s ...
(
Ghost Fleet) near
Fort Eustis, Virginia
Fort Eustis is a United States Army installation in Newport News, Virginia. In 2010, it was combined with nearby Langley Air Force Base to form Joint Base Langley–Eustis.
The post is the home to the United States Army Training and Doctrine ...
. ''Platte'' was slated for disposal at the earliest opportunity as of 7 August 2008.
[http://www.dailypress3.com/ghostfleet/vessel/platte USS Platte Current Status]
She was scrapped by Southern Recycling at Brownsville in December 2014.
References
*
* Jane's Fighting Ships (1982-1999 published versions)
* USS Platte (AO-186) Deck Logs
* Virginia Pilot Archives – 28 December 1990 Front Page A1; 28 June 1991 Local Page D1
USS Platte (AO-186) Website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Platte
Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oilers
Ships built in Bridge City, Louisiana
National Defense Reserve Fleet
1982 ships