U.S.S. Cimarron (AO-177) is the lead ship of the Cimarron Class of Fleet Oilers of the U.S. Navy.

Named for the Cimarron River, which runs thru New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas. The Cimarron was built at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana starting in 1978 and was commissioned in 1981.

As designed Cimarron had a cargo capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil, jet fuel, gasoline or diesel fuel and 625 tons of cargo. She had a fuel transfer rate of 900,000 gallons an hour. She could carry a combination of fuels, dry goods, and other cargo as needed to supply a Carrier Battle Group underway. In the early 1990's she was "jumboized" and her fuel capacity increased to 150,000 barrels, her over length also increased from 591 feet, 6 inches to 700 feet. The Jumboization process was preformed by adding a 108 foot mid-hull section.

The ships engineering power plant consisted of two 500 Psi automated steam boilers which propelled a single screw. The boilers were able to deliver 24,000 shaft horsepower. The ship was able to achieve a top speed of 20 knots.

Upon Commissioning she served with the United States Pacific Fleet, based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In 1983, at Pearl Harbor, her sister ship USS Willamette (AO-180) collided with the Cimarron. Willamette was being towed out of the harbor by a tug boat and the tow line broke, which caused her to drift toward a docked Los Angeles class submarine. In an attempt to miss the submarine, Willamette's Captain orders all back emergency, which averts the collision with submarine, but backs the ship into the Cimarron, which is moored nearby.

On 22 July 1990, the Cimarron was operating in the western pacific ocean and rescued twenty-five refugees in the South China Sea, southwest of Subic Bay, the Philippines.

During the dates of 23 June 1990 until 20 Dec 1990 the Cimarron deployed with the USS Independence (CV-62) Carrier Battle Group in support of Operation Desert Shield. The Independence Battle group was the first carrier group to enter the gulf since 1974.

In 1992 the Cimarron suffered a major engineering plant failure while operating with the pacific fleet, and had to be towed back to Pearl Harbor by the USS Salvor (ARS-52).

On November 10, 1994 she deployed with the USS Constellation (CV-64) Carrier Battle Group to the Western Pacific Ocean. The Battle group spent most of December in the that area, until January 11, 1995 when the Battle Group was dispatched to the Persian Gulf to participate in Operation Southern Watch.

In 1997 Cimarron was operating with the Fifth Fleet and once again joined with Constellation Battle Group on August 17, 1997. And they started on their way back to San Diego, California. While transiting, the battle group participated in Fleet Battle Experiment Bravo (FBE) beginning on August 28. 1997. The FBE involved deploying naval forces to the east and west Pacific Ocean, to test warfighting concepts and strategies for the 21st century.

Cimarron was Decommissioned in 1998. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the following year and her title was transferred to the Maritime Administration. She is currently moored in Susuin Bay, California, with the National Defense Reserve Fleet.

Cimarron's Commendations include the Navy Unit Commendation, Three Navy "E" Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Seven Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.