About this Unit
USS Platte (AO-186) was a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1981. Designed to refuel ships at sea, Platte played a crucial logistical role during her service, supporting operations such as Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. The vessel enabled extended deployments of carrier strike groups by providing fuel and supplies to both ships and aircraft. After nearly two decades of service, USS Platte was decommissioned in 1999 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
Historical Facts
•
USS Platte (AO-186) Class & Naming: USS Platte was the fourth ship of the Cimarron-class fleet oilers, named after the Platte River, a major river in the central United States.
•
Commissioning Date: Platte was commissioned on 16 April 1983, joining the U.S. Navy's logistics fleet during the height of the Cold War.
•
Primary Mission: As a fleet oiler, USS Platte’s primary mission was underway replenishment—refueling and resupplying warships at sea—critical for extending the operational range of the U.S. Navy.
•
Advanced Capabilities: Platte was equipped with the Jumboization modification (1989–1991), where a new 35.7-meter-long midsection was inserted to increase fuel and cargo capacity.
•
Operation Desert Storm: The Platte played a vital support role during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990–1991) by replenishing ships in the Persian Gulf, earning the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.
•
Collision Incident: On 19 February 1991, USS Platte was involved in a collision with USS Trippe (FF-1075) during replenishment operations in the Red Sea, resulting in minor damage and no major injuries.
•
Humanitarian Missions: Platte participated in Operation Restore Hope, supporting humanitarian relief efforts in Somalia in 1992–1993.
•
Women at Sea: Platte was among the early U.S. Navy ships to integrate female sailors as part of its crew, reflecting changing policies in the 1990s.
•
Decommissioning: USS Platte was decommissioned on 30 June 1999 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day, closing out over 16 years of active service.
•
Final Fate: After decommissioning, Platte was laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet and eventually sold for scrapping in 2014, ending her journey as a key logistics vessel in the U.S. Navy.
