USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) is a Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler operated by the Military Sealift Command to support United States Navy vessels. As the eleventh ship of its class, Pecos was constructed at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her keel laid on 17 February 1988 and launched on 23 September 1989. She was delivered to the Navy and entered non-commissioned service on 6 July 1990, crewed primarily by civilians under MSC control. Designed for underway replenishment, Pecos is equipped with a helicopter platform, enabling personnel and supplies to be transferred at sea. The vessel primarily operates within the U.S. Pacific Fleet as part of the MSC Naval Auxiliary Force, MSC Pacific. Throughout her service, Pecos has earned several medals, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (twice), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Her operational history includes notable incidents such as a collision with USS Reuben James during a replenishment in the Persian Gulf in May 1994. In December 1999, Pecos was involved in a tragic accident when a Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed into her during a training mission, resulting in seven fatalities among the 18 personnel aboard the helicopter. Pecos also played a significant role during humanitarian operations, notably during Operation Tomodachi in March 2011. She rendezvoused with USS Blue Ridge near Japan to receive humanitarian supplies, including water, medical supplies, and relief materials, which she then delivered to the disaster-stricken area. During this mission, Pecos conducted nine replenishments, delivering over 2.3 million gallons of fuel to supporting ships, including USS Harry S. Truman and HMS Defender. In 2018, Pecos participated in a transit through the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing U.S. commitment to regional stability amid geopolitical tensions. As of October 2024, Pecos departed San Diego heading toward deactivation, with plans to be taken out of service on the U.S. East Coast in early 2025 at Detyens Shipyards in North Charleston, South Carolina.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.