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Memories of USS Truckee (AO-147) [Home] Neosho Class Fast Attack Oiler 1950-1980 |
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The Webmeister served (1972-74) following the Vietnam War on the USS Truckee, one of six of the class of the largest fleet oilers ever built for the Navy. It was replaced in time by Underway Replenishment Oilers (T-AO), and Fast Combat Support Ships (T-AOE) that carry a mix of "Beans, Bullets, and Black Oil" (to borrow a phrase), so that the critical supplies being ferried to the fleet are dispersed among a number of similar supply ships instead of being concentrated in One Ship, One Commodity. The USS Truckee carried to the fleet 7.5 million gallons of various fuels such as "black oil", "naval distillate" (black oil's cleaner replacement), diesel fuel, fuel for both jet and propeller driven aircraft engines, and fresh water for those old WW-II era ships which could not predictably produce enough fresh water in their antiquated boiler systems. Life was good for a small crew of about 270 on a ship of approximately 38,000 tons fully loaded. Imagine standing calmly on the bridge in rough seas during underway replenishment (UNREP) and drinking a cup of warm, fresh coffee, while the destroyer alongside alternately buries its forward gun mount into the sea, followed by its bow being flung upwards so the sonar dome is clearly visible. The crew of the destroyer is holding on for dear life. Compare and contrast. |
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Web links to USS Truckee information Pause cursor over all links marked with red arrow to see pop-up description on other pages
Send your comments to Joseph C. Topping, Jr. at jct2tx@yahoo.com This site was begun 5 January, 2005, and last updated 01 April, 2007.
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