About this Unit
**AO 105 / AOE Kansas City** refers to the USS *Kansas City*, a vessel of the United States Navy. Originally designated as AO-146, she was a replenishment oiler commissioned in 1970, later reclassified as AOE-3, a fast combat support ship, to reflect her expanded capabilities. The USS *Kansas City* served primarily in the Pacific Fleet, providing vital logistics support—including fuel, ammunition, and supplies—to carrier strike groups and other naval units during the Vietnam War and throughout the Cold War era. After nearly 25 years of service, she was decommissioned in 1994, having played a crucial role in sustaining U.S. naval operations across multiple decades.
Historical Facts
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1. Namesake: USS Kansas City (AO-105) was named after the city of Kansas City, Missouri, continuing the tradition of naming fleet oilers after American cities and rivers.
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2. Class and Role: She was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler, built to provide underway replenishment of fuel and supplies to U.S. Navy ships at sea, crucial for extended naval operations.
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3. World War II Service: Although commissioned late in World War II (June 1945), Kansas City’s primary role was supporting the post-war occupation forces in the Pacific rather than active combat.
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4. Pacific Operations: Kansas City operated in the Far East, notably in Japan and the Philippines, supplying fuel to ships and aiding the demobilization efforts after WWII.
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5. Decommissioning: After a relatively short period of active service, Kansas City was decommissioned in 1947 and placed in reserve, reflecting post-war drawdown in naval operations.
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6. Korean War Reactivation: Although many oilers were reactivated for the Korean War, Kansas City remained in reserve, unlike some of her sister ships who saw action.
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7. Striking and Fate: Kansas City was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1957 and sold for scrap, marking the end of her service life.
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8. Legacy: The name “Kansas City” was later reused for other U.S. Navy ships, including the guided missile cruiser USS Kansas City (AOR-3) and the current littoral combat ship USS Kansas City (LCS-22).
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9. Shipbuilding: Kansas City was built at the Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard in Maryland, reflecting the massive shipbuilding effort during WWII.
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10. Cimarron-class Impact: The Cimarron-class oilers, including Kansas City, were vital for the U.S. Navy’s new doctrine of underway replenishment, which allowed carrier task forces to operate far from home ports and revolutionized naval logistics.
