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History of USS Allagash (AO-97)

USS Allagash (AO-97) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945. She served primarily in the Pacific theater during the final months of World War II, providing vital fuel supply and logistical support to the fleet. After the war, Allagash continued to operate in peacetime and Cold War operations, supporting naval forces through underway replenishment missions. She was decommissioned in 1968 after more than two decades of service, contributing significantly to the Navy’s operational reach and effectiveness.

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ABOUT USS Allagash (AO-97)

  • Namesake: USS Allagash (AO-97) was named after the Allagash River in Maine, following the tradition of naming oilers after American rivers.
  • Class and Type: She was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler, designed to refuel warships at sea, providing critical logistics support during World War II and the Cold War.
  • Construction and Launch: USS Allagash was laid down on December 20, 1944, at Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard in Maryland and launched on May 14, 1945.
  • Post-WWII Service: Although completed too late to see action in World War II, she played a significant role in postwar operations and the early Cold War period.
  • Atlantic Fleet Service: The Allagash mainly operated with the Atlantic Fleet, conducting fueling missions from the Caribbean to the North Atlantic, supporting carrier groups and other vessels.
  • Notable Operations: She participated in NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments, helping to project U.S. naval power and maintain readiness during tense periods of the Cold War.
  • Refueling at Sea: As a fleet oiler, Allagash was equipped to perform underway replenishment, a complex and dangerous operation that allowed warships to remain at sea for extended periods.
  • Decommissioning: After nearly 20 years of service, USS Allagash was decommissioned on April 16, 1968, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same year.
  • Fate: Following decommissioning, she was transferred to the Maritime Administration and eventually scrapped, marking the end of her naval service.
  • Legacy: While not as famous as combat ships, USS Allagash and her crew played a vital but often unsung role in sustaining U.S. naval operations during a pivotal era of 20th-century history.

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