The USS Cimarron (AO-177) was the lead ship of the Cimarron-class fleet oilers in the United States Navy, constructed at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans beginning in 1978 and commissioned in 1981. As a vital component of the Navy’s logistics and refueling capabilities, the Cimarron was homeported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and served primarily in the Pacific Fleet. The ship’s total construction cost was approximately $136.7 million. The Cimarron was notable for its extensive modifications in the early 1990s, undergoing a process called "jumboization," during which a 108-foot mid-body section was added between August 1991 and September 1992. This modification increased its fuel capacity by 30,000 barrels and allowed for an additional 625 tons of ordnance cargo, enhancing its logistical support capabilities. The ship’s new length was 213.25 meters (699 feet 8 inches). The mid-section also included an extra emergency diesel generator and additional cargo stations, with ballast and cargo transfer systems fully automated for safer and more efficient operations. In service, USS Cimarron played a significant role in various deployments, including six Western Pacific/Indian Ocean missions by December 1990, and participated in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield. It was the first Combat Logistics Force ship to implement the Women at Sea program in 1988, integrating female officers and enlisted personnel and marking a milestone in Navy personnel policies. The vessel experienced notable incidents, including a main steam leak and Main Reduction Gear casualty in 1993, requiring extensive repairs. Additionally, in 1994, Cimarron ran aground off Iroquois Point, Hawaii, but sustained only minor damage. Its operational history also includes rescue missions, such as saving five crew members from an overturned sailboat off California and rescuing 25 refugees southeast of Subic Bay in 1990. Decommissioned in 1998 as part of the Navy’s transition to diesel-powered oilers, the Cimarron was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1999 and transferred to the Maritime Administration. It was eventually sold for scrapping in 2012, passing through the Panama Canal en route to Texas for recycling.

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