2016-08-14 Webmaster

Okie Fleet

The “Okie Fleet” is comprised of 20 ships named for State of Oklahoma and its people. Our boats have earned a combined 56 Battle Stars. (This might not be a complete list.)


030114-N-4965F-502USS Carr (FFG-52)

USS Carr (FFG-52), was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the United States Navy, named after Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Paul H. Carr (1924–1944), who was awarded a posthumous Silver Star Medal for his heroism on board the destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts during the Battle off Samar. Carr came from Checotah, Oklahoma.

USS_Chikaskia_(AO-54)_underway_in_Hampton_Roads_1953USS Chikaskia (AO-54)

USS Chikaskia (AO-54) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served her country primarily in the Pacific Ocean Theatre of Operations, and provided petroleum products where needed to combat ships. For her very dangerous work under combat conditions, she was awarded six battle stars for World War II and one for the Korean War. She was named for the Chikaskia River is a 159-mile-long tributary of the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma in the United States.

Usscimarron-ao22USS Cimarron (AO-22)

USS Cimarron (AO-22) was a Cimarron-class oiler serving with the United States Navy and only the second ship to be named for the Cimarron River in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas. She was launched 7 January 1939 by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Chester, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Mrs. William D. Leahy; and commissioned 20 March 1939 with Lieutenant Commander William W. Behrens, Jr. in command. She earned 10 battle stars for World War II service, 7 battle stars for Korean War service, and 4 campaign stars for Vietnam War service.

USS_Evans_(DE-1023)_underway_off_California_in_1962USS Evans (DE-1023)

USS Evans (DE-1023), a Dealey-class destroyer escort, was the third ship of the United States Navy to have the name Evans. However, it is the only ship to be named for Ernest E. Evans, a naval officer and recipient of the Medal of Honor. Evans, of Native American ancestry (half Cherokee and one quarter Creek), was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma. The ships motto was  “Uletsu-Ya-Sti” (Bold Warrior, in Cherokee).

USSCusterAPA40USS Custer (APA-40)

USS Custer (AP-85/APA-40) was a Bayfield-class attack transport that served with the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations. She carried troops into invasion areas and landed them, and, for this dangerous work, she returned home for decommissioning post-war with six battle stars to her credit. She was named for counties in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.  She earned Six battle stars for service in World War II.

USS Garfield CountyUSS Garfield County (LST-784)

USS Garfield County (LST-784) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and Washington, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. She earned 2 battle stars (World War II).

Grant_County_LST-1174USS Grant County (LST-1174)

USS Grant County (LST-1174) was a De Soto County-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during the late 1950s. Named after counties in fifteen states, including Oklahoma, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. In October, 1962 Grant County was dispatched to Florida for assignment during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Grant_County_LST-1174USS Greer County (LST-799)

USS Greer County (LST-799) was a LST-542-class tank landing ship (LST) built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Greer County, Oklahoma on 1 July 1955, and the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. She earned 1 battle star (World War II), 9 battle stars, Navy Unit Commendation & Korean Presidential Unit Citation (Korea).

Haskell_APA-117USS Haskell (APA-117)

The USS Haskell (APA-117) was the lead ship of her class of attack transports, built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design type. Haskell was named for the Haskell Counties of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. She earned 1 Battle Star in WWII.

USS_LST-845USS Jefferson County (LST-845)

USS Jefferson County (LST-845) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in 25 states, including Oklahoma, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. She earned 5 battle stars (Korea).

USS_Kenneth_D._Bailey_(DD-713)_at_Mayport_c1960USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DD-713/DDR-713)

USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DD-713/DDR-713) was a Gearing-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Kenneth D. Bailey. Kenneth Dillon Bailey was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma, on October 21, 1910. Kenneth Dillon Bailey (October 21, 1910 – September 26, 1942) was a United States Marine Corps officer who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroic conduct during action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. He also earned the Silver Star Medal during the initial landing on Tulagi in the Solomon Islands and the Purple Heart.

LST-898USS Lincoln County (LST-898)

USS Lincoln County (LST-898) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in 23 U.S. states, including Oklahoma, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. She earned 1 battle star (World War II) and 6 battle stars (Korea).

USS_MuskogeeUSS Muskogee (PF-49)

USS Muskogee (PF-49), a Tacoma-class frigate in commission from 1944 to 1945, thus far has been the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Muskogee, Oklahoma. She earned 1 battle star, World War II.

USS_Neosho_AO-23USS Neosho (AO-23)

USS Neosho (AO-23) was a Cimarron-class fleet oiler serving with the United States Navy, the second ship to be named for the Neosho River in Kansas and Oklahoma.

After surviving the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Neosho operated in the South Pacific. During the Battle of the Coral Sea she was attacked and set alight, but managed to keep afloat until rendezvousing with an American destroyer on 11 May 1942, who sank her with gunfire after taking off the crew.

USS Neosho (AO-143)

USS Neosho (AO-143) was the lead ship of her class of fleet oilers of the United States Navy, in service from 1954 to the early 1990s.

She served in United States Navy, 1954–1978  providing logistical support to the ships during the Cuban Missile Crisis enforcing the Naval Quarantine of Cuba. She was commissioned into the Military Sealift Command from 1978–1992.

USS_Oklahoma_BB-37USS Oklahoma (BB-37)

USS Oklahoma (BB-37) was a Nevada-class battleship built by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation for the United States Navy in the 1910s. The Nevada class were the first super-dreadnoughts and oil-burning ships in the United States Navy. Oklahoma was the only US warship ever named for the 46th state. Oklahoma, commissioned in 1916, served in World War I as a member of Battleship Division 6, protecting Allied convoys on their way across the Atlantic.

On December 7, 1941, Oklahoma was sunk by several torpedoes during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A total of 429 crew died when she capsized in Battleship Row. In 1943 Oklahoma was righted and salvaged. However, unlike most of the other battleships that were recovered following Pearl Harbor, Oklahoma was too damaged to return to duty.  The “Okie” earned 1 battle star for World War II service.

USS_Oklahoma_City_(CLG-5)_underway_1974USS Oklahoma City (CL-91)

USS Oklahoma City (CL-91/CLG-5/CG-5) was one of 27 United States Navy Cleveland-class light cruisers completed during or shortly after World War II, and one of six to be converted to guided missile cruisers. She was the first US Navy ship to be named for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Commissioned in late 1944, she participated in the latter part of the Pacific War in anti-aircraft screening and shore bombardment roles, for which she earned two battle stars.

071015-N-0780F-004USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723)

USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1991, Oklahoma City won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Atlantic Fleet. The OKC is homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam. Her motto is “The Sooner, The Better”

Pontotoc_(AVS-7)USS Pontotoc (AVS-7)

USS Pontotoc (AK-206/AG-94/AVS-7) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was configured to carry aviation parts and spares, and to issue them to the U.S. Pacific Fleet and activities as needed. She is named for Pontotoc County, Mississippi and Pontotoc County, Oklahoma.

USS_Will_Rogers;0865905USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659)

USS Will Rogers (SSBN-659) was a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine — the last of the “41 for Freedom” Polaris submarines. She was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for humorist Will Rogers (1879–1935). Known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son”, Will Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in Oologah, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).

Sourced from: United States Navy Oklahoma-related ships