Wichita, Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, Benicia, Solano County, CA

STORED ON SITE. mchr
Significance: The Wichita is significant as the first of seven ships designed as auxiliary replenishment oilers (AOR) that served in the U.S. Navy. The Wichita class design was based on the Sacramento (AOE-1), which was a fast combat support ship. The AOR was slightly smaller and slower and carried less cargo than the AOE, but it retained the same configuration for transferring supplies. The Wichita served for twenty-four years in the U.S. Navy and earned four battle stars in the Vietnam War. These honors included the coveted Battle Efficiency Award, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
Survey number: HAER CA-356
Building/structure dates: 1966 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1970 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1974 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1978 Subsequent Work