USS Passumpsic (AO 107)

• Fleet Oiler Role: USS Passumpsic (AO-107) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler, designed to provide underway replenishment of fuel and supplies to U.S. Navy ships, enhancing their operational range and endurance. • Commissioning Date: She was commissioned on 11 August 1946, shortly after the end of World War II, and served through several major conflicts during her career. • Korean War Service: Passumpsic played a vital role during the Korean War, conducting numerous underway replenishments to support U.N. naval operations off the Korean Peninsula. • Vietnam War Operations: The oiler was heavily engaged in the Vietnam War, supplying fuel and other logistics to the U.S. Seventh Fleet and allied ships, often operating in hostile waters. • Multiple Overhauls: Throughout her career, the ship underwent several modernizations and overhauls, including upgrades to her replenishment systems and crew accommodations. • Longest Serving Cimarron-class: USS Passumpsic was one of the longest-serving ships of her class, with over 44 years of service before being decommissioned in 1991. • Support for Nuclear-Powered Ships: She played a key logistical role in supporting both conventional and nuclear-powered vessels, including aircraft carriers and submarines. • Humanitarian Assistance: Passumpsic also provided disaster relief and humanitarian support, such as delivering supplies to regions affected by natural disasters in the Pacific. • Japanese Service: After decommissioning from the U.S. Navy, she was transferred to the Military Sealift Command and later served with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as JS Tōhō (AO-303). • Namesake: The ship was named after the Passumpsic River in Vermont, continuing the Navy tradition of naming oilers after American rivers.