USNS Rappahannock is a Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler operated by the Military Sealift Command to support ships of the United States Navy.

She was one of only three of the eighteen Henry J. Kaiser-class ships – the other two being Patuxent and Laramie – to be built with a double bottom in order to meet the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

Rappahannock entered non-commissioned U.S. Navy service under the control of Military Sealift Command with a primarily civilian crew on 7 November 1995.

During Operation Tomodachi, Rappahannock delivered fuel, stores and humanitarian relief supplies to Blue Ridge for transport to mainland Japan.

After those failed the Rappahannock escalated to lethal force, firing on the approaching vessel with a .50-caliber machine gun,[4] killing an Indian fisherman on board and wounding three others.