USS Cimarron (AO-177) was the lead ship of the Cimarron-class of fleet oilers of the United States Navy. Cimarron was built at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) starting in 1978 and was commissioned in 1981 for service in the Pacific Fleet. Commissioned 10 January 1981, in Oakland, California. The oiler was home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Total cost for the ship was $136.7 million. Jumboization To increase the fueled load of the Cimarron-class oilers it was decided in the late 1980s to lengthen the ships back in Avondale Shipyards. Cimarron became the first ship complete the so-called "jumboization" from August 1991 to September 1992. A mid-body section was added to the center of the ship. This mid-body increased fuel capacity by 30,000 barrels and added an ordnance cargo capability of 625 tons. The mid-body also featured an additional emergency diesel generator and two "Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method" (STREAM) cargo stations. Ballast and cargo transfer systems were fully automated and designed to effect safe and efficient transfer of bulk petroleum cargo. The new length of the ship was . Operational service On 26 March 1993 following an emergent underway, Cimarron suffered a main steam leak and Main Reduction Gear (MRG) casualty. The backup Electric Lube Oil Service Pump (ELOP) was degraded and when the ship lost main steam, she subsequently lost MRG lube oil pressure. 18 of 30 journal bearings for the MRG, HP and LP turbines were wiped and Cimarron had to be towed back into Pearl Harbor by USS Salvor. Cimarron spent the summer from March 27 to September 27 in the shipyards repairing the MRG. After the ship was in Long Beach, it was time to be underway on 15 November for more RAS training this time at sea with the USS Kansas City (AOR-3) off the coast of San Francisco, CA. Cimarron made the transit quickly and efficiently and was called upon to assist a sailing vessel in distress approximately 70 miles of the Northern California coast. Cimarron crewmembers acted as heroes that day as they launched the Rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) in 10–15 foot seas and rescued five crewmembers of the overturned sailboat. In the early hours of 31 March 1994, Cimarron ran aground off Iroquois Point, Hawaii and despite efforts under her own power she had to request USS Salvor to remove her off the sand bar. CDR Torkel Patterson