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The USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198), an underway replenishment oiler.

The underway replenishment oiler is a type of ship of the United States Navy. These oilers provide underway replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. In the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (naval auxiliary service), such vessels are known as Fleet Tankers.

Features: There are stations on both sides of each ship for underway replenishment of fuel and stores.

Background: Fitted with medium-speed diesel propulsion, the delivery of USNS Patuxent (T-AO-201), Rappahannock (T-AO-204) and Laramie (T-AO-203) was delayed by the decision to fit double hulls to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. This modification increased construction time from 32 to 42 months and reduced cargo capacity by 17 percent, although this can be restored in an emergency. Hull separation is 6 ft (1.8 m) at the sides and 6½ ft (2.0 m) on the bottom.

• General Characteristics: Henry J. Kaiser-Class
• Builder: Avondale Shipyards, Inc., New Orleans, La.
• Power Plant: 2 Colt-Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V 570 diesels; 34,442 hp(m) (25.68 MW) sustained; 2 shafts; cp props
• Length: 677.5 feet (206.5 meters)
• Beam: 97.5 feet (29.7 meters)
• Displacement: 40,700 tons (41,350 metric ton) full load; 42,000 tons (42,670 metric tons) for T-AO-201, -203–204
• Capacity: 178,000 barrels (28,300 m³) of fuel oil or aviation fuel; 159,000 for T-AO-201, -203–204]
• Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h)
• Ships: No homeports assigned
  

  

  The command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) prepares to conduct an underway replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) after a four-day port visit to Hong Kong on 10 December 2000.
  • USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187)
  • USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189)
  • USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193)
  • USNS John Ericsson (T-AO-194)
  • USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195)
  • USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196)
  • USNS Pecos (T-AO-197)
  • USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198)
  • USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO-199)
  • USNS Guadalupe (T-AO-200)
  • USNS Patuxent (T-AO-201)
  • USNS Yukon (T-AO-202)
  • USNS Laramie (T-AO-203)
  • USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204)
• Crew: 89 civilian crew (19 officers); 6 Navy plus 29 spare
• Aircraft: Helicopter platform only