Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193)
1988–
Named for Capt. Walter Stuart Diehl, USN (Ret.), a pioneer of aerodynamics and aircraft design. From 1918 until his retirement in 1951, Diehl directed the Navy’s work in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Responsible for the funding, programs and facilities of the Aerodynamics Laboratory, he actively participated in and strongly influenced continuing advances in those fields. He is credited with initiating action that led to the establishment of the David W. Taylor Model Basin at Carderock, Md., the Aircraft Research Station at Chincoteague, Va., and the Navy’s test flight unit at the Naval Air Station, Anacostia, D.C., which later developed into the U.S. Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md.
(AO-193: displacement 9,500; length 677'; beam 97'; draft 35'; speed 20 knots; complement 103; armament 1 .50-caliber machine gun, 2 20 millimeter Phalanx close in weapon system (CIWS); class Henry J. Kaiser)
Walter S. Diehl (AO-193) was laid down on 7 August 1986 at New Orleans, La., by Avondale Shipyard, Inc., launched on 2 October 1987, and sponsored by Mrs. Walter C. Diehl, daughter-in law of the late Capt. Diehl, and entered non-commissioned U.S. Navy service under the control of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) with a primarily civilian crew on 13 September 1988, designated as T-AO-193.
On 23 April 2002, Walter S. Diehl was passing through the Strait of Hormuz when the six small power boats sped alongside. Since she does not resemble a warship, the vessel probably appeared to be easy prey. Walter S. Diehl fired flares as a warning, but the small craft did not back down and a sailor on board the oiler opened fire with a .50-caliber machine gun. The gunner kept firing as the ship moved ahead -- the small boats eventually retired.
Walter S. Diehl suffered minor damage on 20 November 2014 when she collided with dry cargo and ammunition ship Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) in the Gulf of Aden during an exchange of stores.
Detailed history under construction.
Paul J. Marcello
24 November 2015
