About this Unit
USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. Serving primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, she provided vital underway replenishment services, supplying fuel and other logistics to U.S. and NATO warships during the Cold War. Caloosahatchee participated in numerous exercises and operations, including supporting the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and deployments during tensions such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. After decades of distinguished service, she was decommissioned in 1990 and later scrapped.
Historical Facts
•
Commissioned After WWII: USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler commissioned on 10 October 1945, just months after the end of World War II.
•
Named for a Florida River: The ship was named after the Caloosahatchee River in southwestern Florida, continuing the Navy tradition of naming oilers for rivers with Native American names.
•
Korean War Service: The Caloosahatchee played a vital support role for U.S. and UN naval forces during the Korean War, ensuring combat ships had the fuel they needed.
•
Cold War Operations: During the Cold War, the vessel was a key element of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, supporting carrier task forces and NATO allies during numerous exercises and crises.
•
First "Jumboization": In 1968, the ship underwent a "jumboization" at Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore, where a new 400-foot midsection was added, dramatically increasing her fuel capacity and extending her service life.
•
Cuban Missile Crisis: The Caloosahatchee was active during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, providing critical underway replenishment to ships enforcing the naval blockade.
•
Vietnam War Support: Though primarily assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, the oiler supported deployments connected to the Vietnam War, refueling ships transiting to and from Southeast Asia.
•
Woman's Role in Crew History: In the late 1970s, as part of Navy policy changes, Caloosahatchee began integrating female crew members, marking a new era in naval personnel policy.
•
Longest-Serving Oiler: At the time of her decommissioning in 1990, she was one of the longest-serving oilers in the U.S. Navy, with almost 45 years of continuous service.
•
Artificial Reef: In 2003, the Caloosahatchee was sunk off the coast of Delaware as part of the Del-Jersey-Land reef project, creating a haven for marine life and a site for recreational divers.
