USS Willamette (AO-180)

USS Willamette (AO-180) was the fourth ship in the Cimarron class of fleet replenishment oilers for the United States Navy, serving from 1981 to 1999. The contract for constructing Willamette was awarded to Avondale Shipyards Inc in New Orleans on April 11, 1978.

The ship was launched on July 18, 1981, in a unique sideways manner into the Mississippi River at Avondale Shipyards in Louisiana. Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., USN, Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces, Europe, gave the principal speech at the launching ceremony, and his wife, Shirley Grennell Crowe, served as the ship's sponsor.

USS Willamette was commissioned at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, marking the first U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned at that location since 1917. It replaced USS Ashtabula in the Pacific Fleet. The primary mission of the Willamette was to transport and deliver bulk petroleum products, and limited fleet freight, mail, and personnel to combatant and support ships while underway.

Distinguished as the first ship of the class to be outfitted with two MK 15 Phalanx Weapon Systems, the Willamette had extensive damage control equipment and systems designed to ensure a rapid response to various types of emergencies. These features represented a significant evolution in naval capability and the ability to maintain fleet operations at sea. After years of service, the Willamette's active duty came to an end in 1999, marking the conclusion of an essential chapter in naval fleet replenishment and support.