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USS Cuyama (AO-3)
ex
USS Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) (1917 - 1920)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Romeo - Papa NERP

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) World War I Victory Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Transport clasp)
Second Row - American Defense Service Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal

Maumee Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 15 December 1915 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.

Launched, 17 June 1916

Commissioned USS Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15), 2 April 1917, LT. Irving D. Smith, USNRF, in command

Designated (AO-3), 17 July 1920

During World War II USS Cuyama was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 21 April to 30 June 1945

Following World War II USS Cuyama performed Occupation duty in the Far East from 2 September to 7 November 1945

Decommissioned, 12 April 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

USS Cuyama earned one battle star for World War II service

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 1 July 1946 for disposal

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 10 September 1947, to Kaiser Steel Corp. (PD-X-377). Withdrawn from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet and delivered to Kaiser Steel Corp, 6 October 1947

Specifications:
Displacement 5,723 t.(lt) 14,700 t.(fl)
Length 475' 7"
Beam 56' 2"
Draft 26' 8"
Speed 14.3 kts.

Complement

Officers 25

Enlisted 284

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Cargo Capacity 8,350 DWT

Oil 534,000 Bbls

Gasoline 222,000 Gals

Armament

four single 5"/50 gun mounts replaced by four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacity NSFO 5,900 Bbls

Propulsion

two Mare Island vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine

four Ward boilers, replaced by four Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 450psi 730°
Ship's Service Generators
one Diesel-drive 50Kw 120V D.C.
three turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.

twin propellers, 6,080shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) Construction
091900338	273k	*Namesake* Cuyama - The Cuyama River is a 118-mile-long river in southern San Luis Obispo County, northern Santa Barbara County, and northern Ventura County, in the California.	Tommy Trampp
	266k	Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) being prepared for launch, 16 June 1916. Vallejo History and Naval Museum photo # AO3 2488-6-16 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo History and Naval Museum	Darryl Baker
	213k	Mrs. Margaret M. Offley ready to Christen Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15), 17 June 1916. Vallejo History and Naval Museum photo # AO3 70534-6-16 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo History and Naval Museum	Darryl Baker
	180k	This photo is from a glass negative showing Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15)'s Sponsor Miss Margaret M. Offley christening the ship at Navy Yard Mare Island, 17 June 1916. Mare Island Navy Yard photo.	Darryl Baker
Vallejo History and Naval Museum # AO3 2494-6-16	361k	Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) launched and sliding down the builders ways at Mare Island Navy Yard, 17 June 1916. Vallejo History and Naval Museum photo # AO3 2494-6-16 and AO3 2495-6-16 US Navy photos now in the collections of the Vallejo History and Naval Museum	Darryl Baker
Vallejo History and Naval Museum # AO3 2495-6-16	309k		Darryl Baker
	292k	This photo is from a glass negative showing Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15)'s main engine being assembled in the machine shop at Navy Yard Mare Island in June 1916. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 296.	Darryl Baker
	78k	Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) at her fitting out berth at Navy Yard Mare Island, 2 October 1916, soon after launching. The ship moored in the background is the decommissioned Torpedo Boat Tender *Iris. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 2766-10-16, 10/2/1916.*	Darryl Baker
	187k	Installing Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15)'s main engine at Navy Yard Mare Island, 5 December 1916. Aft of *Cuyama* is the ill fated cruiser *USS Milwaukee* (C-21)** Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 2987-12-16, 12/5/16.	Darryl Baker
	241k	Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) at her fitting out berth at Navy Yard Mare Island. Vallejo History and Naval Museum photo # AO3 3810-4-17 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo History and Naval Museum	Darryl Baker
	94k	Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) returning to Navy Yard Mare Island, 21 March 1917 after sea trials. Under way in the lower right corner of this photo is the Yard Ferry *Leslie. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 3086-3-17, 3/21/17.*	Darryl Baker
	89k	Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) near Mare Island Navy Yard circa late March 1917, probably on trials. Her armament of four 5"/50 guns has not yet been installed. US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 55547, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
USS Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15)
	154k	Photo of *USS Cuyama* (Fuel Ship #15)*'s fire room while at Navy Yard Mare Island, 17 April 1917. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 3107-4-17, 4/17/17.*	Darryl Baker
	112k	*USS Cuyama* (Fuel Ship #15)** at anchor probably near Navy Yard Mare Island in 1917. US Navy photo	Jim Kurrasch Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
	94k	*USS Cuyama* (Fuel Ship #15)** near Navy Yard Mare Island in 1917. Mare Island Navy Yard photo.	Darryl Baker
	32k	*USS Cuyama* (Fuel Ship #15)** under way circa 1917	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	71k	*USS Cuyama* (Fuel Ship #15)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Jim Kurrasch Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
	80k	*USS Cuyama* (Fuel Ship #15) at Acapulco, Mexico, circa 1919, with destroyers (starboard side from left to center: USS Walker (Destroyer # 163); USS Crosby (Destroyer # 164); USS Thatcher (Destroyer # 162), and USS Gamble (Destroyer # 123)** moored along her port side. US Navy photo # NH 85033, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1976.	US Naval Historical Center
	195k	*USS Kanawha* (AO-1), USS Cuyama (AO-3), USS Sapelo (AO-11), and USS Brazos (AO-4)** at anchor mid-1920s, location unknown. US Naval History and Heritage Command catalog # NH 77321, from the scrapbooks of Fred M. Butler. Courtesy of Mrs. C.R. DeSpain, Forrest Knolls, Maryland, 1973.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Cuyama (AO-3)
	153k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)*, at anchor, 2 May 1927, location unknown. Note the absence of platforms for two 3-inch AA guns amidships that were fitted in the three later ships of this class. Her forward fire control position has been removed. US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 55545 (NR&L(M) 13708)*, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	132k	Stern view of *USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** in Magdalena Bay circa 1921. The ship is towing the flying boat NC-5, whose bow is in the foreground. US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No.2008.142.001.081	Mike Green
	61k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** at anchor, circa 1920s, location unknown.	Robert Hurst
	51k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** at anchor, circa 1920s, location unknown.	Robert Hurst
	71k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3) with twelve destroyers alongside, during the early 1920s. The ships present include (from left to right): USS Jacob Jones (DD-130); USS Hull (DD-330);; USS Thompson (DD-305);; USS Corry (DD-334);; USS Kennedy (DD-306);; USS Reno (DD-303);; USS Cuyama (AO-3(, center); USS Stoddert (DD-302);; USS Yarborough (DD-314);; USS Sloat (DD-316);; USS Litchfield (DD-336);; USS Shubrick (DD-268) and; USS Young (DD-312).** US Navy photo # NH 77258 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy of Mrs. C.R. DeSpain, 1973, from the scrapbooks of Fred M. Butler.	Robert Hurst
	75k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3) with USS William Jones (DD-308)** alongside, circa 1920s. US Navy photo # NH 77252 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy of Mrs. C.R. DeSpain, 1973, from the scrapbooks of Fred M. Butler.	Robert Hurst
	215k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3) at anchor, circa 1920s, location unknown. It appears that Cuyama** was blowing tubes as this photo was being taken. Photo from an unknown crew member.	Tommy Trampp
	182k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** at anchor with four destroyers alongside, circa 1920s, location unknown. Photo from an unknown crew member.	Tommy Trampp
	246k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** looking aft and down from the forward crows next, circa 1920s, location unknown. Photo from an unknown crew member.	Tommy Trampp
	68k	Forward deck of *USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** drydocked at Mare Island Navy Yard, circa 1920s. Photos from an unknown crew member.	Tommy Trampp
	61k		Tommy Trampp
	189k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3) fueling the destroyer USS Sumner (DD-333)** while under way circa 1925. The fueling gear appears to have been jury-rigged by securing the hose to the oiling boom. Note how close the ships are to one another as they steam side by side separated by only 20 feet or so. This type of operation could only be conducted in smooth seas as indicated from the photograph. US Navy photo from "Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy 1912-1992", by Thomas Wildenburg.	Robert Hurst
091900339	116k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3) refueling the destroyer USS Lawrence (DD-250)** while underway circa 1936 to 1938. Navsource Special Feature - Ralph Fugh Photo Collection	John Chiquoine
091900340	258k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** berthed at a shipyard pier near a drydocked treaty cruiser, and an unknown passenger liner, circa 1930's.	John Chiquoine
	95k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** at anchor, circa 1935 location unknown. US Navy photo from "Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy 1912 - 1992", by Thomas Wildenburg.	Robert Hurst
	96k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** near Mare Island Navy Yard, 30 June 1941, partially repainted. The many alterations made at around this time included the addition of two 3-inch AA gun platforms amidships and the replacement of her 5"/50 guns with the newer 5"/51 model. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-25670 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	32k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** underway, 1943 US Navy photo.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	131k	*USS Cuyama* (AO-3)** off US Naval Station, Seattle, WA., 25 May 1944. Her updated armament includes 5"/38 guns forward and aft. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-65587 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green

USS Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15 / AO-3)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Smith, Irving Dibbie, USNRF	2 April 1917 - 9 January 1918
02	CDR. Blackburn, John Hall, USN (USNA 1902)	June 1922 - 15 December 1923
03	CDR. Moses, Charles Clifton, USN (USNA 1903)	15 December 1923 - 11 March 1924
04	CDR. McClintic, William Stanley, USN (USNA 1905)	11 March 1924 - 10 June 1926
05	CDR. Reichmuth Ferdinand Louis, USN (USNA 1906) : VADM	10 June 1926 - 15 July 1927
06	CAPT. Davis, Louis Poisson, USN (USNA 1905)	15 July 1927- 22 May 1928
07	CDR. Toaz, William Hamilton, USN (USNA 1904)	22 May 1928 - 16 September 1929
08	CDR. Shipp, Earl Roof, USN (USNA 1905)	16 September 1929 - 15 May 1931
09	CDR. Coffman, Richard Boush, USN (USNA 1907)	15 May 1931 - 1933
10	CDR. Fuller, Douglas Wardwell, USN (USNA 1906)	1933 - 1934
11	CAPT. Lewis, John William, USN (USNA 1907)	1934- 1934
12	CDR. Purnell, William Reynolds, USN (USNA 1908) :RADM	August 1934- April 1936
13	CDR. Overesch, Harvey Edward, USN (USNA 1915) :VADM	April 1936 - 8 June 1936
14	CDR. Austin, Leonard Bynner, USN (USNA 1917)	8 June 1936 - January 1937
15	CDR. Thompson, Robert Rowe, USN (USNA 1912)	January 1937 - 9 April 1937
16	CDR. Sullivan, John Raymond, USN (USNA 1918)	April 1937 - 14 June 1938
17	CDR. Crawford, John Graybill, USN (USNA 1919) :RADM	14 June 1938 - 1 October 1938
18	CDR. Rees, John Frank, USN (USNA 1920)	1 October 1938 - 23 June 1941
19	CDR. Coloney, Paul Rowe, USN (USNA 1921-A)	23 June 1941 - 21 May 1943
20	LCDR. Glines, Earl William, USNR	21 May 1943 - 22 May 1944
21	LCDR. West, Carl Richard, USNR	22 May 1944 - 27 November 1945
22	LT. Taylor, Karl A., USNR	27 November 1945 - 12 April 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves, Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Fleet Tankers Association
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Database

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 30 June 2023

USS Cuyama (AO-3)ex USS Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) (1917 - 1920)

USS Cuyama (AO-3)
ex
USS Cuyama (Fuel Ship #15) (1917 - 1920)