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USS Cuyama (AO-3)
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 USS Cuyama (Oiler #3) (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 Transport clasp)
Second Row - American Defense Service Medal (with 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 (Oiler Number 3), 12 April 1917, LT. I. B. 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:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 21 April to earlyu-July 1945
  • Decommissioned, 2 April 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 1 July 1946 for disposal
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1946
  • USS Cuyama received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,723 t.(lt) 14,800 t.(fl)
    Length 475' 1"
    Beam 56' 2"
    Draft 26' 8"
    Speed 14.3 kts.
    Complement 475
    Armament four 5"/35 gun mounts
    Propulsion four Ward boilers, two vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engines, twin screws, 6,080shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Cuyama (Oiler # 3) Construction
    Cuyama 121k This photo is from a glass negative showing the boilers for Cuyama (Oiler #3) being constructed at Navy Yard Mare Island in 1916.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo.    		 Darryl Baker
    Cuyama 180k This photo is from a glass negative showing Cuyama (Oiler #3)'s Sponsor Miss M. Offley christening the ship at Navy Yard Mare Island, 17 June 1916.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo.    		 Darryl Baker
    Cuyama 292k This photo is from a glass negative showing Cuyama (Oiler #3)'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
    Cuyama 78k Cuyama (Oiler #3) at her outfitting berth at Navy Yard Mare Island, 2 October 1916. 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
    Cuyama 187k Installing Cuyama (Oiler #3)'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
    Cuyama 94k Cuyama (Oiler #3) returning to Navy Yard Mare Island, 21 March 1917 after sea trials. Underway 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
    USS Cuyama (Oiler # 3)
    Cuyama 154k Photo of USS Cuyama (Oiler #3)'s fireroom while at Navy Yard Mare Island, 17 April 1917.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 3107-4-17, 4/17/17.    		 Darryl Baker
    Cuyama 94k USS Cuyama (Oiler #3) underway off Navy Yard Mare Island in 1917.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo.    		 Darryl Baker
    Cuyama 32k USS Cuyama (Oiler #3) underway circa 1917 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Cuyama 80k USS Cuyama (Oiler #3) 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
    USS Cuyama (AO-3)
    Cuyama 48k USS Cuyama (AO-3) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NR&L(M) 13708 from DANFS    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Cuyama 61k USS Cuyama (AO-3) at anchor, circa 1920s, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Cuyama 51k USS Cuyama (AO-3) at anchor, circa 1920s, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Cuyama 31k USS Cuyama (AO-3) underway circa 1935 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Cuyama 32k USS Cuyama (AO-3) underway, 1943
    US Navy photo.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    View the USS Cuyama (Oiler #3 / AO-3)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 2 May 2008