USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6)

• Commissioned in 1973: USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) was commissioned on 11 August 1973, serving as a replenishment oiler in the United States Navy’s Wichita-class. • Named After a River: The ship was named after the Kalamazoo River in Michigan, following the tradition of naming oilers after rivers. • Vietnam War Service: Although commissioned after the main combat phase of the Vietnam War, Kalamazoo supported post-war operations in the Western Pacific. • Cold War Operations: Throughout the Cold War, Kalamazoo played a vital role in fueling and supplying US Navy task forces, particularly in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. • Persian Gulf Deployments: In the 1980s and early 1990s, Kalamazoo participated in multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf, supporting operations during increasing regional tensions. • Support During Lebanon Crisis: The ship was involved in supporting the US fleet during the Lebanon crisis of the early 1980s, providing crucial underway replenishment. • Significant Fueling Capacity: Kalamazoo could carry approximately 160,000 barrels of fuel and had the capability to replenish multiple ships at the same time while underway. • Decommissioned in 1996: After over two decades of service, the USS Kalamazoo was decommissioned on 16 August 1996 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1997. • Reserve Fleet and Scrapping: After decommissioning, the ship was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet and was eventually scrapped in Brownsville, Texas in 2008. • Crew Camaraderie and Traditions: Former crew members recall the ship’s tight-knit community and the unique challenges of serving on a replenishment oiler, including the high-tempo operations and pride in keeping the fleet at sea.