About this Unit
USS Roanoke (AOR-7) was a Wichita-class replenishment oiler commissioned by the United States Navy on 30 October 1976. Designed to provide underway replenishment of fuel, munitions, and stores to naval battle groups, Roanoke served primarily in the Pacific Fleet. Throughout her career, she supported numerous operations and exercises, including deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, playing a vital logistical role during peacetime and crisis. After nearly two decades of service, USS Roanoke was decommissioned on 6 October 1995.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Roanoke (AOR-7) was named after the Roanoke River, following the U.S. Navy tradition of naming replenishment oilers after rivers or cities.
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Class and Purpose: She was a Wichita-class replenishment oiler, designed to provide underway replenishment of fuel, ammunition, and supplies to U.S. Navy ships at sea.
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Launch and Commissioning: USS Roanoke was launched on December 7, 1974, by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, and commissioned on October 30, 1976.
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Service in the Pacific: Throughout her active service, Roanoke was homeported in Long Beach, California, and served primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
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Vietnam War Legacy: Although commissioned after the Vietnam War, Roanoke supported operations in the Western Pacific, reflecting the Navy's shift to a post-Vietnam operational tempo.
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Operation Desert Storm: USS Roanoke played a vital support role during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990–1991), refueling and resupplying coalition vessels in the Persian Gulf.
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Record-Setting Replenishments: Roanoke made headlines for performing multiple simultaneous replenishments, at times servicing as many as three ships at once during complex underway operations.
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Humanitarian Missions: Beyond combat support, she participated in peacetime exercises and humanitarian missions, showcasing the Navy's logistical and outreach capabilities.
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Decommissioning: The ship was decommissioned on October 6, 1995, after nearly 19 years of continuous service, and was later struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
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Final Fate: After decommissioning, USS Roanoke was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California, and ultimately scrapped in 2008.
