USS Platte (AO-186)

USS "Platte" (AO-186) was the fifth and last of the Cimarron Class ships built to carry cargo and bulk fuel to battle groups. She was homeported in Norfolk, Virginia and carried a crew of between 230–180 sailors as standard during her years of service.

"Platte" derived her name from the Platte River. Her contract was awarded April 11 1978 and she was built at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans. Her keel was laid February 2 1981, and launched January 30, 1982. "Platte" commissioned April 16, 1983.

Her most notable historical event was the collision with the USS|Trippe|FF-1075|6 approximately 500 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida on April 19 1989. [http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/museum/TRIPPE/TRIPPE.htm USS TRIPPE (FF 1075) and USS PLATTE (AO 186), Collision, 19 April 1989] . This event was reported in the media, however it was overshadowed by a major naval disaster that occurred the same day. That was the day the USS|Iowa|BB-61|6 turret 2 exploded killing 47 sailors off the coast of Puerto Rico.

In May 1989 the "Platte" embarked female sailors stationed as part of the permanent crew for the first time in her existence. She was crewed with a mixed gender crew from 1989 until her decommissioning a little over a decade later. Fact|date=January 2008

Between May 1989 – May 1994 she transited the Panama Canal four times (three times west to east and once east to west.)

She departed Norfolk, Virginia 28 December 1990 en route to Desert Shield support. Before she made the turn into the Straits of Hormuz, the shield became a storm and she fueled ships as the "Fifth and Finest Fleet Oiler" before becoming the "Preferred Oiler of the Persian Gulf." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dr8boofZW0 Preferred Oiler of the Persian Gulf Video] . This video was made and provides verification of her welcoming alongside message to HMAS Brisbane (100th UNREP ship alongside that deployment) and USS LaSalle. She returned to Norfolk 28 June 1990 from Desert Storm.

In February 1992 she departed Norfolk, Virginia and returned to Avondale Shipyard for Jumboization. She was stretched approximately 100 feet. The new "mid-body" section included an ammunition elevator, a second Fairbanks Morse emergency diesel generator, additional a/c capabilities as well as several cargo holds. She departed Avondale Shipyard December 1992 being the last of the five ships to undergo this process and completing it in 10 months.

At commissioning she was 88 feet wide at her beam, 700 feet long, displaced approx 37,000 tons at a speed of 19 knots. Propulsion was two 600 psi steam boilers (automated steam) to one propeller. Her draft was 32 feet.

In 1990 and again in 1992 she circumnavigated South America escorting a carrier departing the Norfolk, Virginia shipyards back to their west coast homeport.

She was decommissioned June 30, 1999 and resides in the James River Reserve Fleet (Ghost Fleet) near Fort Eustis, Virginia. [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AO186.htm Naval Vessel Register] . USS Platte (AO-186) is slated for disposal at the earliest opportunity as of 7 August 2008 [http://www.dailypress3.com/ghostfleet/vessel/platte USS Platte Current Status] . cite web
url= http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AO186.htm
title= Platte (AO 186)
accessdate= 2008-01-15
publisher= Naval Vessel Register
archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1200431964662424
archivedate= 2008-01-15

References

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AO186.htm Naval Vessel Registry]
* Jane's Fighting Ships (1982-1999 published versions)
* USS Platte (AO-186) Deck Logs
* Virginia Pilot Archives – December 28, 1990 Front Page A1; June 28, 1991 Local Page D1
* [http://www.ussplatte.net USS Platte (AO-186) Website]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/19/19186.htm NavSource Online]
* TRIPPE / PLATTE COLLISION (Note these are reverse Chronological, scroll down to 1989 where TRIPPE is listed first. [Collision with USS Trippe] [http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/museum/casualties.htm Casualties]
* Preferred Oiler comment - published in Naval Message Date Time Group (DTG) 241810ZJun91 to USS Platte from COMLOGRON FOUR where by the message states in part: "You are indeed the preferred oiler." [Preferred Oiler comment - published in Naval Message Date Time Group (DTG) 241810ZJun91 to USS Platte from COMLOGRON FOUR where by the message states in part: "You are indeed the preferred oiler."]