USNS Santa Barbara (T-AE 28)

- formerly AE 28 -
- Military Sealift Command -
- decommissioned -

USNS SANTA BARBARA was the third ship in the KILAUEA - class of Ammunition Ships and the third ship in the Navy to bear the name of the seaside resort and residential city in southwestern California. Transfered to the Military Sealift Command, the SANTA BARBARA was finally retired on August 5, 2005. In 2006, the SANTA BARBARA was towed to Brownsville, Tx., for scrapping.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: January 26, 1966
	Keel laid: December 20, 1966
	Launched: January 23, 1968
	Commissioned: July 11, 1970
	Decommissioned: September 30, 1998
	MSC "in service": September 30, 1998
	Deactivated: August 5, 2005
	Builder: Bethlehem Steel Corp., Sparrows Point, Baltimore, Md.
	Propulsion system: 3 Foster-Wheeler boilers; 600 psi (42.3kg/cm²); 870°F (467°C); 1 turbine, 22,000 hp (16.4 MW); Automated Propulsion System (APS)
	Propellers: one (six bladed)
	Length: 564,3 feet (172 meters)
	Beam: 81 feet (24.7 meters)
	Draft: 28 feet (8.5 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 20,000 tons full load
	Speed: 20 knots
	Aircraft: two CH-46 helicopters
	Armament: none
	Crew: 125 civilians, 55 naval personnel (including a helicopter detachment)

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS SANTA BARBARA. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USNS SANTA BARBARA memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS SANTA BARBARA Cruise Books:

Mediterranean Cruise Book 1994

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Accidents aboard USS/USNS SANTA BARBARA:

Date	Where	Events
December 20, 1975	Charleston, South Carolina	USS SANTA BARBARA suffers a Class Alpha fire while moored at Charleston, SC, without crew and ammunition in preparation for a regular overhaul.

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Short History of USS/USNS SANTA BARBARA:

SANTA BARBARA's keel was laid on 19 December 1966 at the Sparrow's Point Maryland shipyard of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and sponsored by Mrs. Graene C. Bannerman at her launching on 23 January 1968. SANTA BARBARA was commissioned and joined the Atlantic Fleet on 11 July 1970. Originally home ported in Davisville, Rhode Island, her home port was changed to Charleston, South Carolina, one of America's oldest and most historic cities.

Throughout the history of SANTA BARBARA, the ship and crew have gained an outstanding reputation as a professional and "can do" team. Her awards include Battle Efficiency "E" Awards won in 1979, 1980, 1989, and 1993 for exceptional performance from all departments, and superior overall ability. She was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1973 for numerous records set replenishing at sea during the Vietnam Conflict, and again in 1988 for her performance during her 3-88 Mediterranean deployment. In 1989, she earned the Golden Anchor Award for the best retention in her class, and was parent command for the 1989 Surface Forces Atlantic Sailor of the Year. Her latest awards are the Maritime Warfare Excellence Award, the Engineering/Survivability Excellence Award, the Command and Control Excellence Award, the Logistics Management Excellence Award, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for her performance during her 1992 - 1993 Mediterranean deployment.

Decommissioned on 30 September 1998, SANTA BARBARA was transferred to the Military Sealift Command (MSC), Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force the same day and her hull number was changed to T-AE-28. As of October 1999, she was in a Reduced Operating Status and laid up pending overhaul.

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USS/USNS SANTA BARBARA Patch Gallery:

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USS/USNS SANTA BARBARA Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken and contributed by Michael Martin. They show the SANTA BARBARA shortly after her arrival at Brownsville, Tx, waiting to be scrapped (the first two photos) and undergoing scrapping. The photos were taken on November 15, 2006, and on February 6, 2007.

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