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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Cimarron (AO-22)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Mike - Quebec
 NEMQ
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Skid (W)iskey - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Presidential Unit Citation (Dolittle Raid) - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (10)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (7) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Taiwan Straits, Quemoy-Matsu, Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (4)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 18 April 1938, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A1) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2) at Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock, Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 7 January 1939
  • Commissioned USS Cimarron (AO-22), 20 March 1939, LCDR. W. W. Behrens in command
  • During World War II USS Cimarron was assigned to both the Atlantic and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in and supported the following operations and campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Midway, 3 to 6 June 1942 Western Carolines Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 6 September to 14 October 1944
    Assault on the Philippine Islands, 9 to 24 September 1945
    Gilbert Islands operation, 21 to 24 November 1943 Luzon operation
    Formosa attacks, 3 to 4 January 1945
    Luzon attacks, 9, 15 and 21 January 1945
    China Coast attacks, 16 January 1945
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 29 January to 8 February 1944
    Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, 17 February to 2 March 1944     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 15 to 23 February 1945
    Asiatic-Pacific Raids - 1943
    Marianas attack, 21 to 22 February 1944
    Palau, Yap, Ulithi, Woleai raid, 30 March to 1 April 1944
    Truk, Satawan, Ponape raid, 29 April to 1 May 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 24 March to 30 June 1945
    5th and 3d Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto, 27 March to 27 May 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 11 to 16 June 1944
    3d Bonins raid, 3 to 4 July 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 10 to 15 August 1944     		3d Fleet operations against Japan, 10 to 18 July and 26 July to 14 August 1945

  • USS Cimarron was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 to 17 September 194513 to 17 November 1945
    15 October to 12 November 194529 to 31 January 1949
    18 November 1945 to 22 January 194613 February to 20 March 1949
    8 to 29 July 19485 to 22 August 1950
    2 to 9 February 194922 September to 28 October 1951
    28 July to 2 August 195022 September to 23 October 1952
     12 September to 14 October 1953
     17 December 1954 to 15 January 1955
     11 August to 2 September 1955

  • During the Korean War USS Cimarron (AO-22) participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    18 September to 2 November 1950     		Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    24 May to 8 June 1952
    18 to 26 June 1952
    29 June to 2 July 1952
    11 to 23 July 1952
    30 July to 10 August 1952
    20 August to 1 September 1952
    9 to 17 September 1952
    8 to 19 November 1952
    Communist China Aggression
    3 November 1950 to 23 January 1951     		Third Korean Winter
    12 to 18 December 1952
    First UN Counter Offensive
    29 January to 20 March 1951
    29 March to 8 April 1951     		Korea Summer-Fall 1953
    7-16 May 1953
    27 May to 6 June 1953
    12 to 23 June 1953
    7 to 16 July 1953
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    31 August to 10 September 1951
    10 to 20 November 1951     		 

  • During the Vietnam War USS Cimarron (AO-22) participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    3 May to 3 July 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    10 to 18 July 1966
    4 to 11 August 1966
    28 August to 5 September 1966
    10 to 14 September 1966
    20 to 23 September 1966
    7 to 15 April 1967
    20 April to 1 May 1967
    5 to 10 May 1967
    20 to 27-May 1967
    Vietnam Defense
    22 July to 1 August 1965
    10 to 16 August 1965
    21 to 30 August 1965
    7 to 17 September 1965
    23 September to 6 October 1965
    9 to 15 October 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    5 to 13 June 1967
    21 to 24 June 1967
    3 to 11 July 1967
    15 to 23 July 1967
    4 to 13 September 1967
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    17 to 22 April 1966
    29 April to 4 May 1966
    9 to 11 May 1966
    16 to 23 May 1966
    27 to 30 June 1966     		 

  • Decommissioned at Long Beach, CA., 1 October 1968
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 10 October 1968
  • USS Cimarron earned ten battle stars for World War II service, seven battle stars for Korean War service, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with four campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration, 15 September 1969, at San Diego, CA. and sold for scrapping the same day to Levin Metals Corp., San Jose, CA.
  • Delivered, 17 October 1969, at San Diego, CA., to Levin Metals Corp.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,470 t.(lt) 25,425 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32' 3"
    Speed 18.3 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 34
    Enlisted 267
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 16,500DWT
    Oil 122,400 Bbls
    Gasoline 805,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity 14,850 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Westinghouse geared steam turbines
    four Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    two turbo-drive 400Kw 230V A.C. Ship's Service Generators
    twin propellers. 13,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Cimarron
    0919022053    		 235k
    Namesake
    Cimarron River extends 698 miles across New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas. The headwaters flow from Johnson Mesa west of Folsom in northeastern New Mexico.    		 Tommy Trampp
    ©Wikipedia map
    Cimarron 142k Cimarron was the first ship completed for the U.S. Maritime Commission, as she appeared during her trials in February 1939.
    Authors 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
    Cimarron 173k USS Cimarron (AO-22), photographed circa 1939-40, soon after completion and prior to receiving her armament.
    Uncropped version of US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 67530    		 Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    Cimarron 88k USS Cimarron (AO-22) departs from the Philadelphia Navy Yard, 29 April 1941, enroute to Baton Rouge, LA., to pick up a cargo of black oil destined for Pearl Harbor. The ship was equipped with one of the first Mark 37 directors and four 5"/38-cal, dual-purpose guns--an unusual combination for an oiler.
    Photo courtesy A. D. Baker III from "Gray Steel and Black Oil: Fast Tankers and Replenishment at Sea in the U.S. Navy 1912 - 1992", by Thomas Wildenburg.    		 Robert Hurst
    Cimarron 77k USS Cimarron (AO-22), off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 6 February 1942. Note her camouflage scheme, and hull number painted just below the forecastle break. Her camouflage is measure 12(modified).
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-30121, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collections now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Cimarron 74k USS Cimarron (AO-22) refueling USS Northampton (CA-26) during the Doolittle Raid mission. Photographed from USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). The original photo caption states that this view was taken on 18 April 1942, the day the Doolittle Raid aircraft were launched to attack targets in Japan. Her camouflage is measure 12(modified).
    US Navy photo # NH 9808, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Cimarron
    091902254    		 118k USS Cimarron (AO-22) alongside USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the Doolittle Raid mission in April 1942.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-330692, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Rick Davis
    Cimarron
    091902202    		 196k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway at Pearl Harbor, T,H. in May 1942. Her camouflage is measure 12(modified).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-66127, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Rick Davis
    Cimarron 763k Starboard bow plan view looking aft of USS Cimarron (AO-22) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 26 November 1942, after taking part in the Tokyo Raid with the USS Hornet (CV-8) and USS Enterprise (CV-6) in April and the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May with USS Lexington (CV-2), USS Yorktown (CV-5), Hornet and Enterprise, to defeat the Japanese at Midway at the end of May-early June, and finally, taking part in operations in the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal. Cimarron is still in splotches. The excessive fading of the seablue (5-S) is evident on the hull. The small dark patches are primer coats of 84D. Hulls always took more of a beating because they could not be “kept up” underway, whereas decks and superstructures were often touched up and maintained. The bright sun tends to wash out the 5-O and 5-H side splotches on the bridge. The circles indicate new equipment or structures added at that time and are actually drawn on the original negatives. The Farragut class destroyers USS Worden (DD-352) and USS Dewey (DD-349) in the background, on the opposite side of the pier, across for Worden, are both in Measure 21, navy blue (5-N). The stern of the heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) is visible just forward of USS Worden. Across the river at Mare Island Naval Station, in the ferry slip, is either the harbor ferry Delta King (YFB-55) or Delta Queen (YFB-56).
    US Navy photo    		 Pieter Bakels and Steve Whitby
    Cimarron 949k Forward plan view of USS Cimarron (AO-22) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 26 November 1942. The stern of the heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) is visible inboard of the barge YC-247 on the adjacent pier.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7256-43. 30 November 1942    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 948k Aft plan view of USS Cimarron (AO-22) at Mare Island Navy Yard, 26 November 1942. The destroyer USS Worden (DD-352) is moored at the adjacent pier.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7256-43. 30 November 1942    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 105k Broadside view of USS Cimarron (AO-22) off Mare Island, 28 November 1942. Cimarron was at Mare Island for repairs from 3 to 28 November 1942. Her camouflage is measure 12(modified).
    .    		 Darryl Baker
    Cimarron 94k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Edward H. Cleary
    Cimarron 406k HMS Victorious serving with Task Group 36.3 of the US Pacific Fleet about to refuel at sea, using the abeam method, from USS Cimarron (AO-22), 12 July 1943. The aircraft are in a variety of different camouflage schemes but all have USN-style 'star' markings clearly visible on their wings and fuselage.
    Author's Collection. Photo taken from "The British Pacific Fleet: The Royal Navy's Most Powerful Strike Force", by David Hobbs. Publish by Seaforth Publishing.    		 Robert Hurst
    Cimarron 99k Details of USS Cimarron (AO-22) camouflage Measure 32-13T. Measure 32 (medium) was used considerably more on Fleet warships and auxiliaries than the dark or light systems. Black and all the blue-grays were used in these FALSE PERSPECTIVE designs. The below photograph of Cimarron (AO-22) is a typical application of Measure 32. It is easy to see how the use of darker or lighter colors could change this design to Measure 31 or 33, or vice versa. Patterns of deck blue and ocean gray were almost always carried on the decks. Two color vertical designs used dull black and light gray. Three color designs used dull black, ocean and light gray. Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 35k USS Cimarron (AO-22), comes alongside USS Enterprise (CV-6) to begin a refueling of the carrier while underway in the Pacific Ocean. 28 January 1944.
    US National Archives photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 545k USS Cimarron (AO-22), painted camouflage Measure 32-13T, connects fuel lines to USS Enterprise (CV-6) while underway in the Pacific Ocean as the Enterprise's Gasoline Officer directs the operation from above, 28 January 1944.
    US National Archives photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 33k USS Cimarron (AO-22) steams a steady course as USS Yorktown (CV-10) comes alongside to refuel and resupply the carrier while underway in the Pacific Ocean, 4 March 1945.
    US National Archives photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 3722k USS Cimarron (AO-22) steams alongside USS Yorktown (CV-10) to refuel and resupply the carrier while underway in the Pacific Ocean, 4 March 1945.
    US National Archives photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 1028k USS Cimarron (AO-22) steams alongside USS Yorktown (CV-10) to refuel and resupply the carrier while underway in the Pacific Ocean, 4 March 1945.
    US National Archives photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 79k USS Cimarron (AO-22) steams alongside USS Yorktown (CV-10) to refuel and resupply the carrier while underway in the Pacific Ocean, 4 March 1945.
    US National Archives photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 68k USS Cimarron (AO-22) steams alongside USS Yorktown (CV-10) to refuel and resupply the carrier while underway in the Pacific Ocean, 4 March 1945.
    US National Archives photo.    		 Pieter Bakels
    Cimarron 12k USS Cimarron (AO-22) at sea while refueling USS Hornet (CV-12), circa April 1945. Her camouflage is measure 32 design 13T. Steve Whitby
    Cimarron 231k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway in harbor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    Cimarron NH 73254 74k USS Cimarron (AO-22) at anchor, circa 1945-46, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 73254, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1970, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command . Colorized version (091902240) contributed by Robert Hurst, courtesy Auke Vissar's Famous T-Tanker Pages    		  
    Cimarron 091902240 68k
    Cimarron 138k USS Cimarron (AO-22) refuels USS Iowa (BB-61) in rough weather in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka), circa 1946-47.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" Magazine, May 1947.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Cimarron 65k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway, circa 1950s, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Edward H. Cleary
    Cimarron 197k USS Cimarron (AO-22) moored at San Pedro, CA., circa 1950. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cimarron
    091902257    		 90k USS Cimarron (AO-22) replenishing the escort carrier USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116) off Korea, circa 1951. Badoeng Strait was deployed to Korea between 2 October 1951– 14 February 1952, Cimarron from 1 August to 10 December 1951.
    U.S. Navy "All Hands" magazine December 1951, p. 14    		 Robert Hurst
    Cimarron 82k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway, 4 May 1955, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Edward H. Cleary
    Cimarron
    091902258    		 711k Broadside starboard view of USS Cimarron (AO-22) after regular overall at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, 20 April 1956.
    US Navy from US National Archives and Records Administration NAID; 7573428, BUSHIPS ID: 19-NN-AO-22 Cimarron-155093    		 Robert Hurst
    Cimarron 52k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway, 4 August 1958, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Edward H. Cleary
    Cimarron 80k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway, June 1959, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Edward H. Cleary
    Cimarron 280k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway in Western Pacific during 1962. Photos from USS McDermut (DD-677) during her 1962 WestPac deployment Jonathan Archer USS McDermut
    Cimarron 903k USS McDermut (DD-677) waits her turn to refuel alongside USS Cimarron (AO-22) while underway in Western Pacific during 1962. Photos taken from McDermut during her 1962 WestPac deployment. Jonathan Archer USS McDermut
    Cimarron 79k USS Cimarron (AO-22) refueling USS Alamo (LSD-33) and USS Princeton (LPH-5), circa January-February 1963, Pacific Ocean Ron Reeves
    Cimarron
    091902246    		 291k USS Cimarron (AO-22) refueling USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) and USS Edson (DD-946), circa 1965/1966, WestPac.
    Photos courtesy ADJ3 David Elfver.    		 Bob Canchola
    Cimarron
    091902247    		 395k
    Cimarron
    091902248    		 322k
    Cimarron
    091902249    		 312k
    Cimarron
    091902250    		 280k
    Cimarron
    091902251    		 458k
    Cimarron
    091902252    		 318k
    Cimarron 77k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway, March 1965, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Edward H. Cleary
    Cimarron 117k USS Cimarron (AO-22), underway at sea, 16 November 1965. Photographed by PH3 G.S. Brown, of USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).
    US Navy photo # NH 97824, from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Cimarron 38k USS Cimarron (AO-22) and USS Cacapon (AO-52) moored pierside, Pier 9 Naval Station Long Beach, CA., 1965. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cimarron 42k USS Cimarron (AO-22) and USS Caliente (AO-53) moored pierside at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cimarron 100k USS Cimarron (AO-22) underway, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cimarron
    091902256    		 949k USS Cimarron (AO-22) conducting an underway replenishment in 1966 with USS Tulare (AKA-112) to starboard and USS George Clymer (APA-27) (not visible) off her port side Photo by Gary Hornung taken from USS George Clymer Bob Canchola
    Cimarron 149k USS Cimarron (AO-22), with USS Hornet (CVS-12), and USS Nicholas (DD-449), during underway replenishment activities off the coast of North Vietnam, circa 1966.
    US National Archives photo # USN 1115952, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Cimarron 70k USS Cimarron (AO-22) Change of Command, 26 July 1966, at NavSta Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, CAPT James E. Heg USN relieved CAPT. Lawrence A. Dewing USN Tommy Trampp
    USS Cimarron (AO-22)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Behrens, William Wohlsen, USN :RADM20 March 1939 - 3 July 1940
    02CDR. Redfield Jr., Herman Judd, USN (USNA 1916) :RADM3 July 1940 - 1 February 1942
    03CDR. Ihrig, Russell Million, USN (USNA 1919) :RADM1 February 1942 - 21 October 1943
    04CAPT. Cady, John Parmalee, USN (USNA 1922)21 October 1943 - 17 March 1944
    05LCDR. Clague, John, USN17 March 1944 - 20 May 1944
    06CDR. Kooistra, Abbo H., USNR20 May 1944 - 4 September 1944
    07LCDR. Schnaars Jr., Henry George, USNR4 September 1944 - 19 October 1945
    08CDR. Milhring, Russell, USN19 October 1945 - 21 December 1945
    09LTjg. McCarthy, John L., USNR21 December 1945 - 5 January 1946
    10CAPT. Murphy Jr., John William, USN (USNA 1925)5 January 1946 - OCtober 1947
    11CAPT. Gladding, Douglas Victor, USN (USNA 1926)October 1947 - November 1948
    12CAPT. Beasley, Charles Black, USN (USNA 1927) :RADMNovember 1948 - November 1949
    13CAPT. Nichols, Stanley Gilbert, USN (USNA 1926)November 1949 - July 1951
    14CDR. Wells, Peter Katz, USN (USNA 1927)July 1951 - September 1952
    15CAPT. Jukes, Herbert Lollis, USN (USNA 1932)September 1952 - August 1953
    16CAPT. Walker, William Warren (Red), USN (USNA 1934)August 1953 - October 1954
    17CAPT. Butler Jr., William Clayton, USN (USNA 1930) :RADMOctober 1954 - March 1956
    18CAPT. Cresap, James Barton, USN (USNA 1937)March 1956 - June 1957
    19CAPT. Lief, Sam Albert USN (USNA 1931)June 1957 - July 1958
    20CAPT. Russell, Hawley (Monk), USNJuly 1958 - July 1959
    21CAPT. Richardson, David Charles. USN (USNA 1936) :VADMSeptember 1959 - October 1960
    22CAPT. Weatherwax, John Craig, USN (USNA 1939)October 1960 - August 1961
    23CAPT. Fidel, John Anthony, USN (USNA 1939)August 1961 - 11 July 1962
    24CAPT. Betzel, Albert Frederick, USN (USNA 1942) (U.S. Navy photo as CO of USS Sea Robin (SS-407) circa 195211 July 1962 - 3 August 1963
    25CAPT. Conatser, Charles Neal (Charlie), USN3 August 1963 - 15 July 1964
    26CAPT. Welsh, John Robert, USN (USNA 1942)15 July 1964 - August 1965
    27CAPT. Dewing, Lawrence Albert, USNAugust 1965 - 26 July 1966
    28CAPT. Heg, James Elmer, USN26 July 1966 - 9 November 1967
    29CAPT. Farrell, Ted Lee, USN9 November 1967 - 1 October 1968
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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