Cimarron was built at the Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA) starting in 1978 and was commissioned in 1981 for service in the Pacific Fleet.

The mid-body also featured an additional emergency diesel generator and two "Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method" (STREAM) cargo stations.

[2] Upon departure Avondale Shipyards after conversion in 1992, Cimarron transited the Panama Canal and made three port visits enroute Pearl Harbor, HI.

18 of 30 journal bearings for the MRG, HP and LP turbines were wiped and Cimarron had to be towed back into Pearl Harbor by USS Salvor.

Cimarron made the transit quickly and efficiently and was called upon to assist a sailing vessel in distress approximately 70 miles of the Northern California coast.

[4] In the early hours of 31 March 1994, Cimarron ran aground off Iroquois Point, Hawaii and despite efforts under her own power she had to request USS Salvor to remove her off the sand bar.

However, to save expenses and in keeping with the Navy's move away from steam propulsion, the class was to be replaced by the diesel-powered Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler manned by the Military Sealift Command (MSC).