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

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USS MAUNA KEA Cruise Books:

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Accidents aboard USS MAUNA KEA:

Date	Where	Events
March 12, 1977	Western Pacific	USS 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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USS MAUNA KEA Image Gallery:

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