USS Cuyama (AO-3)
USS Cuyama (AO-3)
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| History | |
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 United States
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| Name: | Cuyama |
| Namesake: | Cuyama River |
| Laid down: | 15 December 1915 |
| Launched: | 17 June 1916 |
| Commissioned: | 12 April 1917 |
| Decommissioned: | 2 April 1946 |
| Identification: | AO-3 |
| Fate: | scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Kanawha-class fleet replenishment oiler |
| Type: | Tanker |
USS Cuyama (AO-3) was a tanker of the United States Navy launched 17 June 1916 by Mare Island Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss M. Offley; and commissioned 2 April 1917, Lieutenant I. B. Smith, USNRF, in command.
Cuyama was named after the Cuyama River. After her maiden voyage to Pearl Harbor in May 1917, Cuyama departed San Francisco 6 June, loaded petroleum products at Port Arthur, Texas, and arrived at Norfolk 6 July. She called at Boston, New York City, and Bayonne, before sailing from Norfolk 11 August with a convoy bound for England. Returning to Norfolk 19 September, she was fitted for transporting aircraft. She made three convoy voyages from New York to England until 9 January 1918 when she was transferred to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service. She made six voyages to the United Kingdom delivering war cargo until 17 October.
Cuyama departed New York 16 December 1918 to bring oil and gasoline from Port Arthur to Norfolk, then sailed 4 January 1919 to supply the Fleet in the Caribbean until returning to Norfolk 13 May.
The oiler stood out of Norfolk 25 June 1919, and arrived at San Pedro, California, 7 August after fueling ships at Acapulco, Mexico. Classified AO-3 on 7 July 1920, she remained on the west coast procuring and dispensing oil and gasoline cargoes, servicing ships, and occasionally transporting passengers, provisions, and freight, or towing yard craft. In October 1921 Cuyama conducted the first ever underway refueling, towing the destroyer Hogan astern; over the next three years she was the test ship for developing the technique of alongside refueling, first of destroyers and then larger vessels. Cuyama therefore played a key role in the development of what would prove a major factor in the successful war against Japan. In 1927 and 1934 she cruised to the east coast for fleet maneuvers and in 1936, 1937, and 1938 made 13 voyages from the west coast to Pearl Harbor on transport duty. During 1941 she made five similar voyages and practiced refueling at sea with the cruisers of the Scouting Force. She arrived at San Diego 26 November 1941 for overhaul.
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