SERVICE: Navy
DESCRIPTION: Oilers furnish fuel and petroleum products to the fleet at sea.
FEATURES:
The fleet oilers such as USS Platte (shown here), operate as a unit of an underway replenishment group, replenishing petroleum products to the fleet at sea. Oilers transport bulk petroleum and lubricants from depots to battle group station ships. They deliver petroleum and cargo to combatants and support forces by tying up alongside or by helicopter.BACKGROUND:
The number of Navy manned fleet oilers has diminished as more and more Military Sealift Command ships, all civilian manned, have assumed responsibilities for supplying ships of the fleet. The Navy has "jumboized" all five ships of the Cimarron class. The AO Jumbo program is designed to increase the 120,000 barrel fuel capacity of these ships to 150,000 barrels and add the capability of carrying 600 tons of cargo ammunition.
