This July 1953 article from All Hands magazine presents two photographs of underway replenishment at sea: USS DeHaven (DD-727), a Sumner-class destroyer, taking on fuel from USS Oriskany (CVA-34), an Essex-class attack carrier. Underway replenishment — the ability to refuel and resupply warships without returning to port — became essential to sustained naval operations in World War II and Korea, and remains a defining capability of the U.S. Navy’s ability to project power globally.
USS DeHaven (DD-727) served in the Korean War and later as a training ship. USS Oriskany (CVA-34) completed her shakedown in 1952 and served until 1976, earning the nickname “The Mighty O” for her combat record in Korea and Vietnam. The carrier was sunk as an artificial reef off Pensacola, Florida, in 2006.
Photo 1 — click to enlarge
Photo 2 — click to enlarge
