USS Maumee (AO-2)-- Part 2: Service in World War I and Pioneering Refueling Operations

After the Declaration of War on 6 April 1917, the Maumee was ordered to refuel destroyers being sent to Britain in the North Atlantic.  She was stationed 300 miles south of Greenland.

The Maumee refueled the second group of six destroyers on 28 May 1917 and in so doing pioneered  the Navy's underway refueling operations.  This established the pattern of mobile logistic support which enables the Navy to keep  fleets at sea for extended periods of time.  No need to go to a port and lose time.

The ship was under the command of William Victor Tomb at the time.  Fleet Admiral Nimitz was executive officer of the Maumee at the time and he applied this to fleet use during World War II.

By July 5, the Maumee had refueled 34 destroyers in such manner.

The Maumee made two other  ocean crossings to Europe where she refueled naval units attached to the American Expeditionary Force.  After the end of the war, the Maumee operated off the U.S. east coast until decommissioned 9 June 1922 and layup in reserve in Philadelphia.

I also wrote about the Maumee's service in the next war in my Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II blog.  Also, there was a USS Maumee in the Civil War and that one is covered right now in my Running the Blockade: Civil war Navy blog.

--Cooter