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USS Mauna Kea (AE 22)

- decommissioned -
- sunk as a target -



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 Benecia, CA. The MAUNA KEA was finally sunk as a target during RIMPAC 2006 off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, on July 12, 2006.

General Characteristics:Awarded: June 4, 1954
Keel laid: May 16, 1955
Launched: May 3, 1956
Commissioned: March 30, 1957
Decommissioned: June 30, 1995
Builder: Bethlehem Steel, Shipyard Inc., Sparrows Point, Md.
Propulsion system: Two boilers, geared turbines, one shaft, 16,000 shaft horsepower
Length: 511 feet (155.75 meters)
Beam: 72 feet (22 meters)
Draft: 29 feet (8.8 meters)
Displacement: approx. 17,450 tons full load
Speed: 20 knots
Aircraft: helo platform only
Armament: 4 3-inch/50-caliber guns
Crew: 20 Officers and 324 Enlisted


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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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USS MAUNA KEA Cruise Books:


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Accidents aboard USS MAUNA KEA:

DateWhereEvents
March 12, 1977Western PacificUSS MAUNA KEA loses propulsion because of a mechanical failure in the number 1 boiler while en route from Guam to Okinawa. MAUNA KEA is towed to Apra Harbor, Guam, the next day.


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