USS Canisteo (AO-99)

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Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About USS Canisteo (AO-99)

USS Canisteo (AO-99) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in December 1945. Serving primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, Canisteo provided vital underway replenishment support to U.S. and allied ships during the early Cold War, including operations in the Mediterranean and participation in NATO exercises. The ship also aided in the U.S. response to crises such as the Suez Crisis and the Lebanon intervention in 1958. After decades of service, Canisteo was decommissioned in 1989, marking the end of a distinguished career supporting naval operations around the globe.

Unit Members

Terry Hicks

U.S. Navy

USS Canisteo (AO-99)View Profile

Najee Abdullah

U.S. Navy

USS Canisteo (AO-99)View Profile

Photos

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

About USS Canisteo (AO-99)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Name Origin: USS Canisteo (AO-99) was named after the Canisteo River in New York, following the US Navy tradition of naming oilers after rivers with Native American names. • Launched in 1945: The ship was launched on July 6, 1945, by Bethlehem Steel Company in Sparrows Point, Maryland, towards the end of World War II. • Service as a Fleet Oiler: As a Cimarron-class oiler, the Canisteo played a vital role in refueling ships at sea, enabling US naval operations worldwide. • Operation Crossroads: In 1946, USS Canisteo supported the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, providing logistical support to the assembled fleet. • Korean War Service: During the Korean War, Canisteo supplied fuel to US Navy combat ships operating in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, ensuring their operational readiness. • Modernization: In the 1960s, Canisteo underwent significant upgrades, including the installation of the "Jumboization" process, which involved inserting a new midsection to increase fuel capacity. • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Canisteo was part of the naval blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, supplying fuel to ships enforcing the quarantine. • Service Longevity: The ship served for more than four decades, from 1945 until her decommissioning in 1989, marking her as one of the longest-serving oilers of her class. • Reserve Fleet and Scrapping: After decommissioning, Canisteo was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet before being scrapped in 2010. • Ghost Ship Rumors: While awaiting scrapping, the Canisteo, along with other reserve ships, became the subject of local rumors and urban legends about "ghost ships" in the James River Reserve Fleet.