A quick Google search says May 28, 1917 when USS Maumee refueled destroyers on the way to the UK. The officer who figured out how to do it was then Lt. Chester Nimitz.
First refueling at sea
There were other experiments and trails before then. See:
Wikipedia on Underway Replenishment
The limitations on moving coal before oil came into general use made it impractical. The Royal Navy experimented with oiling underway before 1914 but it seems like the Maumee was the first operational use.
Does anyone happen to know which US Naval vessels were involved in the first underway replenishments... oil or coal, bulk cargo, ammo, etc.? Are there models of these vessels made by anyone? I'm guessing WWI era timeframe, but I really have no clue....
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