"Though currently mothballed, the USS Wichita operated in the Vietnam War and earned her crews four battle stars for her service."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS Wichita (AOR-1).
3 x boilers feeding steam turbines developing 32,000 horsepower to 2 x shafts. Propulsion
20.0 kts 23.0 mph Surface Speed
Structure The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS Wichita (AOR-1).
420 Personnel Complement
659.0 ft 200.86 meters O/A Length
96.0 ft 29.26 meters Beam
35.0 ft 10.67 meters Draught
40,100 tons Displacement
Armament Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS Wichita (AOR-1).
2 x Phalanx CIWS
1 x Sea Sparrow Mk 29 surface-to-air missile launcher
Air Arm Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of USS Wichita (AOR-1).
2 x CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
Ships-in-Class (7) Notable series variants as part of the USS Wichita (AOR-1) family line as relating to the Wichita-class group.
USS Wichita (AOR 1); USS Milwaukee (AOR 2); USS Kansas City (AOR 3); USS Savannah (AOR 4); USS Wabash (AOR 5); USS Kalamazoo (AOR 6); USS Roanoke (AOR 7)
The USS Wichita was a replenishment oiler and operated in support of fleet operations during her time. She was the second ship to be named after the US city and the first of her Wichita-class fleet support ships to see service. She was later joined by the USS Milwaukee, USS Kansas City, USS Savannah, USS Wabash, USS Kalamazoo and the USS Roanoke. She is no longer in active service with the United States Navy.
After traversing from her construction grounds and through the Panama Canal, the USS Wichita made berth at her home port in Long Beach, California, USA. She was later put into action in support of ships in the Vietnam War, to which she earned her crew several awards including battle stars (4) and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the latter for replenishing some 23 ships in a single day. She made no less than three deployments to the region during the conflict and also served as crew readiness trainer and ambassador to various ports in Canada and South America. She primarily served with the 7th Fleet in the Pacific during her time on the seas.
Her armament consisted of twin Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems for anti-missile/anti-aircraft defense. This was further supplemented by the addition of a single Sea Sparrow Mk 29 surface-to-air missile launchers. The USS Wichita could also support up to 2 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters for various roles when called upon.
The USS Wichita was first ordered in 1965 and laid down the following year. She was launched in 1968 and officially commission a year later. She was officially decommissioned in 1993 and her name struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1995. The vessel is currently in mothball status at Suisun Bay, California.
Operators Global operator(s) of the USS Wichita (AOR-1). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.
[ United States ]
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Going Further... USS Wichita (AOR-1) Replenishment Oiler / Fleet Support Ship appears in the following collections:
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