About this Unit
USS Willamette (AO-180) was a Cimarron-class fleet replenishment oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1981. Designed to provide underway replenishment of fuel and supplies to naval vessels, she played a crucial support role in operations across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Willamette participated in numerous exercises and deployments, including support for U.S. operations during the Gulf War. After over two decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1999 and later scrapped.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Willamette (AO-180) was named after the Willamette River in Oregon, continuing the tradition of naming fleet oilers after American rivers.
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Ship Class: She was the third ship of the Cimarron-class (AO-177) of fleet replenishment oilers, designed to provide fuel and supplies to U.S. Navy ships at sea.
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Commissioning: Willamette was commissioned on 30 April 1981 at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Pearl Harbor Homeport: Unlike most of her class, Willamette was homeported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, making her the only fleet oiler based there for much of her career.
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Collision Incident: On 10 February 1989, Willamette collided with the guided-missile cruiser USS Jason Dunham (CG-51), resulting in significant damage but no fatalities—this led to improved safety procedures for underway replenishments.
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Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: Willamette played a support role during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, providing fuel and supplies to U.S. and coalition ships in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
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Length and Capacity: At 657 feet long, she could carry over 180,000 barrels of fuel, making her a crucial asset for sustained naval operations.
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Decommissioning: Willamette was decommissioned on 30 June 1999 after 18 years of service and was later struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
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Final Fate: After years in reserve, she was sold for scrapping in 2014, ending her service life.
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Legacy: During her career, Willamette earned several awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation and the Southwest Asia Service Medal, highlighting her important contributions to U.S. naval operations.
