See USS Pecos for other ships of the same name.

USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) is a Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler operated by the Military Sealift Command to support ships of the United States Navy, and the third such ship to be named after the Pecos River.

Pecos was laid down 17 February 1988 at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana; launched 21 April 1990; and delivered to the Navy and placed in service with MSC as USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) on 6 July 1990. The ship is equipped with a helicopter platform to allow for at-sea transfer of personnel and supplies. Pecos is currently part of the MSC Naval Auxiliary Force, MSC Pacific and has received the following awards: the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (twice), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

On 9 December 1999 a U.S. Marine Corps H-46 helicopter crashed into the Pecos and sank while participating in a training mission. 7 of the 18 personnel on board the helicopter were lost in the accident.

References

• T-AO-197 Pecos. Fleet Oiler (AO) Photo Index. Retrieved on April 4., 2006.
• CNN.com: Search intensifies for 7 Marines after helicopter crash. Retrieved on February 27., 2007.

External links

• Footage from YouTube of the CH-47 accident on 9 DEC 1999.
• CNN.com article regarding the CH-46 accident on 9 DEC 1999.