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USS Mauna Kea (AE 22)

Named after the volcanic peak in the north-central section of the island of Hawaii, the USS MAUNA KEA was the second ship in the SURIBACHI - class of Ammunition Ships.

On 28 February 1965, the MAUNA KEA arrived at the Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co. yards, Seattle, Wash. There having reverted to in commission, in Reserve, status, MAUNA KEA commenced FAST (Fast Automatic Shuttle Transfer System) conversion. Completion of this conversion, which enabled her to transfer a "bird" from her hold to the magazine of a missile-firing ship in 90 seconds and allowed her greater versatility in servicing the fleet with the addition of a helopad for vertical repenishment capabilities, was delayed for 8 months, because of strikes and lack of necessary parts, until June 1966.

Decommissioned on June 30, 1995, the MAUNA KEA was stricken from the Navy list on December 12, 1996. On December 18, 1998, MAUNA KEA was transferred to the Maritime Administration as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet and spent the following years at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, CA. The MAUNA KEA was finally sunk as a target during RIMPAC 2006 off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, on July 12, 2006.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS MAUNA KEA. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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• Click here to see which USS MAUNA KEA memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS MAUNA KEA Cruise Books:

• WestPac Cruise Book 1970
• WestPac Cruise Book 1990

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Accidents aboard USS MAUNA KEA:

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USS MAUNA KEA History:

USS MAUNA KEA was laid down at the Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard at Sparrows Point, Maryland, on May 6, 1955, launched on May 3, 1956, and sponsored by Mrs. Charles R. Brown. She was commissioned on March 30, 1957, with Captain Kenneth Loveland in command. Following commissioning and shakedown training, she reported to Service Squadron 1 in the eastern Pacific and spent the following months supporting units of the United States First Fleet. From August 17 to October 11, 1957, she underwent repairs at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California. Captain Henry L. Waliszewski relieved Captain Loveland on November 2. During November, the ship prepared for her first western Pacific deployment, and in December she reached Sasebo, Japan, where she reported to Service Squadron 3 and began providing ammunition support to ships of the United States Seventh Fleet.

Captain Dale E. Cochran assumed command on January 20, 1959, followed by Captain Hart D. Hilton on January 26, 1960. Throughout the period from 1958 through early 1965, MAUNA KEA alternated between duties with Service Squadron 1 in the eastern Pacific and deployments with the Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific. During these cruises, she participated in Southeast Asia Treaty Organization exercises and in combined training with South Korean, Japanese and Republic of China forces. Her service during this period also included operations for which she later received Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal credit connected with the Taiwan Strait and Quemoy-Matsu areas.

Captain Joseph E. Hoker assumed command on May 19, 1961. On July 27, 1962, Captain James S. Elkins Jr. relieved him during a change-of-command ceremony at the Naval Ammunition Depot at Concord, California. During the 1962-1963 western Pacific deployment of USS RANGER (CVA 61), MAUNA KEA was photographed with USS FRANK KNOX (DD 742) alongside while ammunition was being transferred, illustrating the ship's normal role in sustaining deployed combat units at sea. Captain Thomas E. McCormick Jr. assumed command on August 14, 1963, and Captain George B. Howe Jr. followed on October 17, 1964.

A major modernization began when MAUNA KEA arrived at the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company yard in Seattle, Washington, on February 28, 1965. Lieutenant Commander Clair E. Leedom Jr. assumed command the previous day. The ship was placed in an in-commission, in-reserve status while undergoing conversion to the Fast Automatic Shuttle Transfer system. The modernization significantly improved her ammunition-handling capability and was designed to permit a missile to be moved from the ship's hold to the magazine of a receiving missile ship in approximately 90 seconds. A helicopter platform was also added, giving MAUNA KEA a vertical-replenishment capability in addition to conventional alongside transfer. Labor disruptions and shortages of required components delayed completion of the conversion by several months. Captain Francis X. Timmes assumed command on November 15, 1965. The conversion was finally completed in June 1966 and was followed by fitting-out work and intensive post-conversion shakedown training extending into the autumn. An overhead photograph taken on May 25, 1966, during this period shows the ship underway at approximately 14 knots. Captain John R. Lindsay assumed command on October 29, and by November MAUNA KEA had returned to active Pacific Fleet service.

MAUNA KEA departed her home port at Concord, California, on December 28, 1966, beginning what was identified as her ninth western Pacific deployment. She reached Subic Bay in the Philippines on January 9, 1967, joined Service Squadron 7, and departed four days later for her first operational period off Vietnam. Her mission had by then changed substantially from the predominantly peacetime exercises of the preceding decade. United States carrier forces were conducting sustained combat flight operations from Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin, while cruisers and destroyers operated along the Vietnamese coast. MAUNA KEA supplied ammunition to both groups.

Her officially credited Vietnam service during this deployment included January 24 through February 8, 1967; February 18 through March 17; March 30 through April 13; April 29 through May 18; May 24 through May 31; June 1 through June 17; and July 1 through July 19. During these recurring line periods, she rearmed carrier groups operating from Yankee Station and cruisers and destroyers serving off South Vietnam, returning to logistical bases as required to reload. After approximately six months of this operating cycle, she left the combat area late in July and proceeded to Yokosuka, Japan, for a brief visit before beginning the return voyage across the Pacific. MAUNA KEA arrived at Concord on August 22, 1967. An availability followed, after which she resumed fleet and local exercises along the California coast.

Captain Warren H. Sells assumed command on February 14, 1968. Six days later, on February 20, MAUNA KEA departed California for another western Pacific deployment. She began direct support of Seventh Fleet combat operations in March and thereafter spent much of the deployment alternating ammunition-support periods in the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin with reloads at Subic Bay and limited port visits. Her Vietnam campaign credit records service from March 15 through April 1, 1968, during the Tet Counteroffensive; on April 2; from April 10 through April 24; and from June 16 through June 28 during Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase IV.

On April 20, 1968, MAUNA KEA conducted an underway ammunition transfer with USS FIREDRAKE (AE 14) in the Gulf of Tonkin. She also anchored at Anchorage No. 13 in Da Nang Harbor on May 15 and May 16. After departing the Gulf of Tonkin on May 17, she reached Subic Bay on May 18 for replenishment and logistical support. From June 10 through June 15 she made a port visit to Hong Kong before returning to operational duties.

The operating tempo remained high through the second half of the deployment. MAUNA KEA received Vietnam campaign credit for July 7 through July 17, July 27 through August 6, August 17 through August 28, September 7 through September 15, and September 25 and September 26, 1968. On September 10, she conducted a documented highline ammunition transfer to USS BENNINGTON (CVS 20) in the Gulf of Tonkin. The ships steamed alongside one another while ammunition was transferred across the gap between them. MAUNA KEA completed her final credited Vietnam period of the deployment on September 26 and subsequently began the voyage back to California. She arrived at Concord on October 14 after nearly eight months away from home port. Leave, upkeep and subsequent First Fleet support followed.

By April 1969, MAUNA KEA was again supporting operations in the Vietnam theater. Her campaign credit places her in qualifying operations from April 11 through April 27, May 4 through May 15, and May 24 through June 5 during the Tet 69 Counteroffensive, followed by June 14 through July 9, July 30 through August 18, August 29 through September 18, and October 1 through October 21 during the Summer-Fall 1969 campaign. Photographs from this period show the ship conducting vertical replenishment in the Pacific, demonstrating the helicopter-transfer capability installed during her modernization. Captain Thomas H. Polk relieved Captain Sells on July 17, 1969.

MAUNA KEA continued the cycle of western Pacific deployments and ammunition support into 1970. A photograph taken during that year records an underway replenishment with USS BLANDY (DD 943). Her Vietnam campaign credit resumed from June 24 through June 30, 1970, during the Sanctuary Counteroffensive. Under Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VII, she received additional credit for July 17; July 18 through August 9; August 25 through September 3; September 27 through October 18; November 2 through November 14; November 20 through December 2; December 15 through December 31, 1970; and January 9 through January 13, 1971. Captain Albert J. Monger assumed command on October 4, 1970.

Captain Guy A. B. Grafius relieved Captain Monger on August 10, 1971. Later that month, MAUNA KEA returned to sustained operations connected with the Vietnam War. Her qualifying service during the Consolidation I campaign began on August 19 and continued through September 3, followed by September 12 through September 21, October 13 through October 18, October 29 through November 8, and November 15 through November 26. During 1971, she was photographed approaching HMAS BRISBANE (D 41) for an underway replenishment, documenting support to an allied warship serving in the theater. She was also photographed coming alongside USS RANGER in the Gulf of Tonkin for an ammunition transfer.

MAUNA KEA continued qualifying Vietnam service during the Consolidation II campaign from December 15 through December 23, 1971, and again from January 2 through January 13, 1972. On January 12, USS LEONARD F. MASON (DD 852) received underway replenishment from MAUNA KEA before resuming operations in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The final phase of MAUNA KEA's Vietnam War service began later in 1972, during a period in which intensive United States air and naval operations coincided with the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive and the negotiations that eventually produced the Paris Peace Accords. She earned Vietnam Ceasefire campaign credit from August 23 through September 4, 1972; September 11 through September 24; October 8 through October 22; November 10 through November 14; December 1 through December 22; on December 27; and from January 1 through January 25, 1973. Lieutenant Commander Jonathan A. Dirvianskis relieved Captain Grafius on December 6, 1972. MAUNA KEA's final credited Vietnam campaign period ended two days before the Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27, 1973. Altogether, the ship earned twelve campaign stars for Vietnam War service.

Following the reduction of direct United States combat involvement in Vietnam, MAUNA KEA returned to the broader Pacific Fleet ammunition-support role for which she had been built. Her duties continued to include western Pacific deployments, fleet exercises, ammunition loading at shore facilities, connected replenishment alongside other ships, and helicopter-assisted vertical replenishment. Commander Thomas E. Kilpatrick assumed command on May 18, 1974, and Commander Bernard Riedel Jr. relieved him on August 14, 1976.

During the ship's 1976-1977 western Pacific cruise, MAUNA KEA suffered a significant engineering casualty. On March 12, 1977, while steaming from Guam toward Okinawa, a mechanical failure involving No. 1 boiler caused the ship to lose propulsion. She was unable to continue under her own power and was towed back to Guam, entering Apra Harbor on March 13. After repairs she returned to service. During 1977, USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63) recorded ammunition replenishments from MAUNA KEA on July 21 and August 9.

Commander Alden A. Davis assumed command in July 1978. During 1979, MAUNA KEA operated with Task Group 37.9, centered on USS RANGER. Other ships associated with the formation included USS ELLIOT (DD 967), which served as Destroyer Squadron 31 flagship, USS BUCHANAN (DDG 14), USS BROOKE (FFG 1), USS DOWNES (FF 1070), and USS CAMDEN (AOE 2). The deployment occurred during a period of rapidly changing political and military conditions around the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, including the Iranian Revolution and growing United States concern over the security of sea routes in the region. MAUNA KEA's function within the force remained ammunition support for deployed combatants.

Captain James P. Breece relieved Commander Davis on July 12, 1980. MAUNA KEA continued a regular schedule of Pacific Fleet exercises and deployments during the early 1980s. On March 25, 1981, she was documented moored at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In October, of that year she was photographed passing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge while entering San Francisco Bay. Captain Robert E. Amos assumed command on July 10, 1982.

During 1983, MAUNA KEA participated in an unusual training evolution during Third Fleet exercise ReadiEx 83-3. Rather than operating solely as an ammunition replenishment ship, she was employed as a minelaying platform and laid 2,000-pound Mark 55 bottom mines. The exercise demonstrated the possibility of using logistics vessels for additional wartime tasks. MAUNA KEA was photographed underway on October 15, 1983. During the same general period she operated with Pacific Fleet forces preparing for western Pacific deployment.

In early 1984, MAUNA KEA deployed with the battle group centered on USS KITTY HAWK. Ships operating with the group included USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9), USS BERKELEY (DDG 15), USS CHANDLER (DDG 996), USS LEWIS B. PULLER (FFG 23), USS DAVIDSON (FF 1045), USS STEIN (FF 1065), and USS HAROLD E. HOLT (FF 1074). MAUNA KEA participated in Exercise Team Spirit 84 in March 1984. The annual combined United States-Republic of Korea exercise was intended to train forces for reinforcement and defense operations on the Korean Peninsula and was one of the major recurring military exercises in Northeast Asia during the Cold War.

MAUNA KEA subsequently remained active in the western Pacific. On June 2, 1984, she was photographed anchored off Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Later that month, she encountered severe weather associated with Tropical Storm Wynne. As the storm moved into the South China Sea and passed south of Hong Kong on June 25, MAUNA KEA passed close to its center. The ship reported maximum winds of approximately 60 knots with gusts reaching approximately 70 knots. No personnel injuries or significant damage to the ship were reported. Commander John T. Kelly relieved Captain Amos on August 17, 1984.

Commander Richard B. Charuhas assumed command on December 17, 1986. MAUNA KEA remained in active Pacific service during the latter part of the decade and continued to provide ammunition support to carrier and surface groups. During 1987, she replenished USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70); records from the carrier include an ammunition replenishment involving approximately 300 lifts.

Commander Thomas H. Gorski assumed command on January 9, 1989. Records from that year provide particularly detailed evidence of MAUNA KEA's continuing workload. On May 12, USS CARL VINSON conducted a connected replenishment with MAUNA KEA involving 137 ammunition loads. On May 13, the two ships conducted a vertical replenishment involving 146 loads. They worked together again on September 5, when MAUNA KEA transferred another 169 loads.

MAUNA KEA remained heavily employed in 1990. On March 26 and March 27, USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64), having completed a transit around South America during her transfer to the Atlantic Fleet, transferred her complete conventional weapons load to MAUNA KEA before proceeding toward Norfolk. MAUNA KEA also continued overseas operations in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean during this period, and her service record includes Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal credit for operations connected with the Persian Gulf.

Commander John B. Strott relieved Commander Gorski on April 24, 1991. Despite her age, MAUNA KEA continued ammunition operations with the Pacific Fleet's newest aircraft carriers. On January 15, 1992, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) conducted an ammunition offload with MAUNA KEA during operations off Southern California. Later that year, the ammunition ship again operated overseas. On August 28, she was photographed preparing to anchor off Singapore, providing a firmly documented location during the deployment.

Commander Richard F. Nathanson became MAUNA KEA's final commanding officer on January 24, 1993. The ship undertook another substantial operational cruise that year. On December 2 and December 3, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN again transferred ammunition to MAUNA KEA as the carrier completed its return from an Indian Ocean and western Pacific deployment. The continued employment of MAUNA KEA for major carrier ammunition transfers at this late stage of her career demonstrated that the specialized ammunition-ship mission remained necessary even as newer combat-logistics ships entered service.

MAUNA KEA remained commissioned through the first half of 1995. When USS JASON (AR 8), which had been commissioned during World War II, was decommissioned on June 24, 1995, MAUNA KEA became the oldest active commissioned United States Navy ship apart from USS CONSTITUTION. She held that distinction for only six days. USS MAUNA KEA was decommissioned on June 30, 1995, ending more than 38 years of commissioned service. The distinction of oldest active commissioned ship then passed to USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62).

Following decommissioning, MAUNA KEA was placed in reserve. She was formally struck from the Naval Vessel Register on December 12, 1996. On December 18, 1998, title was transferred to the Maritime Administration for retention in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California. The former ammunition ship was ultimately selected for disposal as a live-fire target. During the 2006 Rim of the Pacific exercise in Hawaiian waters, the former MAUNA KEA was used in a sinking exercise and was sunk off Kauai on July 12, 2006.

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