USS Wabash (AOR-5)

• Namesake: USS Wabash (AOR-5) was named after the Wabash River, which flows through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. It is the second ship in the U.S. Navy to bear the name. • Class and Type: Wabash was a Wichita-class replenishment oiler, designed to provide underway replenishment of fuel, ammunition, and supplies to U.S. Navy ships at sea. • Commissioning: She was commissioned on 20 November 1971 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. • Vietnam War Service: Shortly after commissioning, USS Wabash deployed to the Western Pacific and supported U.S. naval operations during the final stages of the Vietnam War. • Operation Frequent Wind: In 1975, Wabash played a vital support role during Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. • Cold War Deployments: Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Wabash conducted numerous deployments in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, supporting carrier battle groups and allied navies. • Humanitarian Missions: Wabash provided support during humanitarian operations, including disaster relief missions in the Pacific region. • Helicopter Operations: The ship was equipped with a helicopter landing pad and hangar, allowing for vertical replenishment (VERTREP) operations using CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. • Decommissioning: USS Wabash was decommissioned on 30 September 1994, after 23 years of service, and was later struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1997. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, Wabash was laid up in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in California. In 2010, she was expended as a target during a training exercise.