VetFriends Members: 3,064,780

 
JOIN NOW

History of USS Severn (AO-61)

USS Severn (AO-61) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler commissioned by the United States Navy in 1944. She played a vital role during World War II, providing fuel and logistical support to combat ships in the Pacific Theater, including operations at Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. After the war, Severn continued her service during the Korean War and supported various peacetime operations. Decommissioned in 1971, she was recognized for her essential contributions to naval operations across multiple conflicts.

Members

Load More

Gallery

More Unit Photos

ABOUT USS Severn (AO-61)

  • Namesake: USS Severn (AO-61) was named after the Severn River in Maryland, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, the home of the U.S. Naval Academy.
  • Class and Type: She was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler, designed to transport and deliver fuel to ships at sea, making her a vital logistical asset during World War II and beyond.
  • Launched During WWII: USS Severn was launched on 31 July 1944 by Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Maryland, and commissioned on 19 October 1944, entering service during the closing year of World War II.
  • Pacific War Service: The ship supported the Okinawa campaign in 1945, fueling warships and enabling the sustained naval bombardment and air operations vital to the success of the campaign.
  • Survived a Typhoon: In 1945, USS Severn weathered the devastating Typhoon Louise at Okinawa, a storm that wrecked many ships anchored in Buckner Bay.
  • Korean War Role: The oiler was recommissioned for the Korean War, supplying fuel to U.S. and United Nations naval forces during the conflict in the early 1950s.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Severn played a support role in the Atlantic during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, helping maintain the naval quarantine of Cuba.
  • Multiple Decommissionings and Recommissionings: The ship was decommissioned and recommissioned several times, reflecting the changing needs of the U.S. Navy during periods of conflict and peacetime.
  • Long Service Life: USS Severn served the Navy for over two decades, from 1944 until her final decommissioning in 1973.
  • Battle Stars: For her service in World War II and the Korean War, USS Severn earned five battle stars, a testament to her extensive and hazardous service in multiple major conflicts.

Navy Best Sellers

Go To Store