Cimarron (AO 22 AO 177) - Naval Cruise Book

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'14 I sk .- Jax merge x I THE SECOND CIMARRON World War II s Most Famous Tanker The second CIMARRON, AO-22, was launched 7 January 1939, by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Chester, Pennsylvania and commis- sioned 2O March 1939. Prior to World War II, CIMARRON op- erated on both coasts and sup- ported convoys to Iceland. When the war began, she was in the vicinity of Capetown, South Africa, and operated from the Brazilian ports to Iceland until March l942, when she was transferred to the West Coast. ClMARRON's first duty on the West Coast was with the task force which made the first air raid on Tokyo, flown from the carrier HORNET by COL James H. Doolittle's Army Corps pilots in B-25 bombers. Later she supported the forces which defeated the Japanese in the Battle of Midway, the Solo- man Islands operation, the Guadalcanal campaign, the oc- cupation of New Georgia, the Wake Island raid, the Gilbert Is- lands campaign, the Marshall Is- lands operation, the attacks on Truk, the Marianas operation, and the Palay operation. After the war, she supported the occupation of Japan and later primarily operated in the Far East. She served three tours of duty in the Korean War, par- ticipated in the 1959 Quemoy- Matsu Island Crisis, and made three Western Pacific deploy- ments during the Vietnam War. She received ten battle stars for World War II service and four for the Korean War. Referred to as the MOST DEPENDABLE OILER IN THE PACIFIC FLEET , CIMARRON pro- vided outstanding service throughout her distinguished ca- reer.

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I 1,3 g 5 , 'Qi .M- l' S H'l'I'1.Xlll'll2 l'l5l.Xlil3lD.Y - ffcuf XAVVIA 1 'f'f'N' US Steamer CIMARRON US Steamer CIMARRON off in heavy weather off Cape Charleston, South Carolina, circa . Hatteras, circa 1861. 1861. l l JF US STEAMER CIMARRON Civil War Veteran The first CIMARRON was a sidewheel, double-ended steam gunboat which was built by D.S. Machine of Bor- dertown, New Jersey. Launched 16 March 1862, she was outfitted at the Phil- adelphia Navy Yard and commissioned 5 July 1862. Between 11 July and 4 September 1862, CIMAR- RON sailed the James River in active support of Civil War Army operations. She later gave excellent sewice as 2 member of the South Atlan- tic Blockading Squadron. CIMARRON returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard 8 Au- gust 1865, and was decom- missioned 17 August 1865.

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.gum- USS CIMARRONCAO-221 refueling a World War II era carrier. A TOAST TO THE CIMARRON QAO 223 'UNO bogres are srghted off the starboard bow A mme Just went by and mrssed us somehow Subs have been stalkmg us most of the day But that s normal for Crmmy when she s undewvay She was armed like a bandit and loaded for bear When they'd look for her here she d be over there lt drove the enemy fleet half out of therr mrnd The pnze that they wanted they never drd find No there wrll be no more tankers llke the old 22 Though the Crmarron name rs on one that rs new We served on the Queen she well earned her name For she won every hand when war was the game The deck could be stacked or the loaded drce ro Crmmy always came through wrth an ace rn the ho e Reports sand she s mrssmg or long overdue But she d pull mto port wrth all of her crew May her memory not fade from the few who are here As our numbers grow less year after year So lrft your glass hugh a salute and a toast To the shrp that was there when they needed her most THE E ERA DECUMMISSIUNING CEREMUNY uss CIMARRON lAO 22p 30 SEPTEMBER 1968 Lett lnvrtatlon to the Rlght program from the decommrssromng cere decommlsslonmg Gere mony mony AO 22 decommrssroned 30 September 1968 Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day She was sold for scrapplngln1969 PROGRAM NATIONAL ANTHEM COMNAVAIBPAC Band INVOCATION Remarks by Captaln A F Betzel Commander Ser vrce Group One Remarks by Hear Admrral Wrllram W Ben S I Commander Amphrbrous Group One Commanding Ofhcer s Farewell Haul Down Colors .lack and the Commtssxomng Pennant Secure the Watch Commandlng Offrcer reports to Offxcer ln Charge, Naval lnactrve Shrp Marntenance Facthty the USS CIMARRON lAO 22l 15 Decommlssroned Officer rn Charge Naval lnactlve SNP Maxntenance Facrllty Accepts USS CIMARHON lAO 22D BENEDICTIQN i' + if Q if vf 1 of 1 f f f ' ' i' 'k 1- 1' I . I F 1' 1' 'k 1' ' -nf -1- -rf r f 1 ' , .'er.,J. , . -- . I ' 1' 1- wk -r + sl Q- + -ff -nf + - - 1 X' f f 'k if Y ' r H Y 1' T if Y I - . I ' . 'A' if i' if , . . I , : ' 1 ' - ' ' - vc + if 1- 4- f f 1 Y -1 I -,,,.,,Y - . . I ,Q--,,,,.f ' if if + me +C as + w ak 4: 4 ' . ff 'lf ul' if nl- uf at t 4- it