USNS Hassayampa (T-AO-145)

Hassayampa refueling USS Midway (CV-41), in 1984
History
United States
Name:	USS Hassayampa
Namesake:	Hassayampa River, Arizona
Builder:	New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, NJ
Launched:	12 September 1954
Commissioned:	15 April 1955
Decommissioned:	2 October 1991
In service:	1955
Out of service:	1991
Struck:	7 November 1994
Homeport:	Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Nickname(s):	Humpin' Hass, Cashmere Delta
Fate:	Sold for scrap
Notes:	Ship International Radio Callsign: NLGA
General characteristics
Class and type:	Neosho-class fleet replenishment oiler
Displacement:	11,600 t.(light), 38,000 t.(ful)
Length:	654.8 ft (199.6 m)
Beam:	86 ft (26 m)
Draft:	35.1 ft (10.7 m)
Propulsion:	2 x boilers
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement:	106 civilian mariners, 21 Navy
Armament:	Six 3 in/50 dual purpose mounts, later removed
Aviation facilities:	Helipad on stern

USS Hassayampa was a Neosho-class fleet replenishment oiler in service with the United States Navy, and the United States Merchant Marine from 1955 to 1991. A veteran of the Vietnam and First Gulf War, she served for 36 years before being laid up in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in California. Her keel was laid on 13 July 1953.

Between July 1955 and May 1958, Hassayampa made three deployments to the Western Pacific, providing logistics for the United States 7th Fleet. In June 1958 Hassayampa joined the 1st Fleet at San Francisco to participate in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the cruise of the Great White Fleet around the world. On 16 July 1958, Hassayampa returned to Pearl Harbor and resumed regular duties.

In September 1958, Hassayampa, deployed with the 7th Fleet to prevent invasion of Chinese offshore islands and convoyed Nationalist transports during the Quemoy-Matsu Crisis. At one point, in December 1958, Hassayampa had the unfortunate experience of being close-in to an aviation mishap when a pilot from a nearby aircraft carrier lost control of his aircraft and crashed into the sea astern of the ship. Only a portion of a wing tank, a section of the windshield and some debris from the cockpit were recovered.

Between 1959 and 1961 she made three additional deployments to the Western Pacific continuing her services to the 7th Fleet including a 1960 visit to Perth and Adelaide, Australia to participate in Australia's 18th celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea. In May 1962, Hassayampa supported units of the 7th Fleet moving Marines into Thailand to prevent flare-up of trouble in Laos.