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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Mauna Loa (AE-8)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Whiskey - Hotel
NAWH
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Elbow (U)niform - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Citation
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Quemoy-Matsu, Korea)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (3) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Lassen Class Ammunition Ship:

Laid down, 10 December 1942, as a Maritime Commission (C2 Cargo) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract at Tampa Shipbuilding Corp., Tampa, FL.

Launched, 14 April 1943

Commissioned, USS Mauna Loa (AE-8), 27 October 1943, CDR. George D. Martin in command

During World War II USS Mauna Loa was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Western Caroline Islands operation Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 6 September to 14 October 1944	3 Fleet operations against Japan, 10 July to 3 August 1945
Okinawa Gunto operation 5th and 3d Fleet operations in support of Okinawa Gunto operation, 16 March to 11 June 1945

Following World War II USS Mauna Loa was assigned to Occupation service from 2 September to 2 October 1945

Decommissioned, 2 June 1947, at Bremerton, WA. and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton Group

Recommissioned, 31 January 1955, at San Diego, CA., CAPT. Elgin B. Hurlbert USN in command

Decommissioned, 16 December 1958, at Orange, TX., laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange

Towed to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia, 12 November 1960

Re-acquired and recommissioned, 27 November 1961, CAPT. Vernon P. O’Neil USN in command

During the Vietnam War USS Mauna Loa (AE-8) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 29 November to 18 December 1967 30 December 1967 to 17 January 1968 29 January 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 5 to 11 April 1968
Tet Counteroffensive 30 January to 9 February 1968 17 to 29 February 1968 9 to 16 March1968

Decommissioned, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1976

Mauna Loa earned three battle stars for World War II service and three campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Laid up in reserve at the Portsmouth VA. Interactive Ship Maintenance Facility

Administrative custody transfer to the Maritime Administration, 20 March 1984

Final Disposition, sold 20 March 1984 for scrapping in Spain. Withdrawn from the reserve fleet and delivered to her buyers, 11 June 1984. Scrapping completed, 24 September 1984

Specifications:
Displacement 6,350 t.(lt) 14,225 t.(fl)
Length 459'
Beam 63'
Draft 25' 11"
Speed 15.3 kts (trial)

Complement

Officers 21

Enlisted 260

Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

eight twin 20mm AA gun mounts

Cargo Capacity 7,485 DWT

non-refrigerated 425,000 Cu ft.

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 8,425 Bbls

Propulsion

two Nordberg Diesel, TSM219 Diesel engine

single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C.
one Diesel-drive 150Kw 120V/240V D.C.

single propeller, 6,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
1217002804	35k	*Namesake* *Mauna Loa* is one of five volcano's that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The largest subaerial volcano in both mass and volume, it is an active shield volcano. Lava eruptions from Mauna Loa are silica-poor and very fluid, and they tend to be non-explosive	Tommy Trampp
	46k	Mauna Loa (AE-8) launching, 14 April 1943 at Tampa Shipbuilding Corp., Tampa, FL. Photo from Hampton Dunn Collection.	J.D. Smith
	188k	Mauna Loa (AE-8) as seen from *USS San Jacinto* (CVL-30) with USS Chauncey (DD-667) in the background, 22 March 1945. Chauncey was reported by Mauna Loa** as unable to maintain her station due to heavy weather. US National Archives Photo # 80-G-316353 a US Navy photo now in the collection of the US National Archives, College Park, Maryland.	Tracy White
09050815	316k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8) rearming ships of Fast Carrier Task Force Thirty-eight (TF38), seen here hi-lining main battery ammunition to USS Alabama (BB-60), 20 July 1945. USS Black (DD-666) is to starboard of Mauna Loa*. Photos from collection of Roy Gunnels*	John Chiquoine
09050816	317k		John Chiquoine
	74k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** at anchor, date and location unknown.
	118k	From left to right Sixth Fleet ships moored at Barcelona, Spain in April 1956: *USS Cassin Young* (DD-793), USS Albany (CA-123), USS Newport News (CA-148), USS Mercury (AKS-20), and USS Mauna Loa (AE-8). Newport News** had just taken over as Flagship for Vice Admiral Harry D. Felt, Commander Sixth Fleet, when this photo was taken.	George Klos
	53k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8) at anchor in Gravesend Bay, N.Y., 26 July 1957. Mauna Loa caught fire on this date near the entrance to New York Harbor and for 75 minutes endangered large parts of the New York and New Jersey waterfront before the fire was brought under control by the ships' crew. The Mauna Loa** was headed for NAD Earle, N.J. US Navy photo from a United Press photo.	Tommy Tramp
	108k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1959.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	243k	Port and Starboard bow views of *USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** under way, 19 November 1961, near Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.	Mike Smolinski Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	93k		Mike Smolinski Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	146k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8) replenishes USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in the Virginia Capes area, 7 July 1962. Forrestal** had Carrier Air Group (CVG-8), tail code "AJ," embarked. US Navy photo # USN (CVA-59-21510-L-7-62), by PH2 Caswell	Robert M. Cieri
	227k	*USS Springfield* (CLG-7) breaking away from USS Mauna Loa (AE-8)** after completing a replenishment at sea while in the Mediterranean Sea, circa 1965.	William C. Swisher
	128k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** offloading ammunition while at anchor at San Juan, Puerto Rico, circa 1964-1975. The service craft alongside includes Waukegan (YTM-755) amidships and *YC-1369* forward. US Navy photo # USN 1111131 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
	128k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	99k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	91k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.

For more photos and information about USS Mauna Loa, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
MARAD Vessel History Database
©New York Times, 27 July 1957 - "FIRE ON ARMS SHIP SCARES CITY AREA"

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Martin, George Dewey	27 October 1943 - 19 June 1945
02	LCDR. Rawson, Kenneth L.	19 June 1945 - 30 October 1945
03	CDR. Stuart, Alexander Lunde	30 October 1945 - 13 March 1946
04	CDR. Matthiesen, Hans Olaf, USNR	13 March 1946 - 15 May 1946
05	LT. Shingler, Stanley M.	15 May 1946 - 30 August 1946
	Decommissioned	30 August1946 - 31 January 1955
06	CAPT. Hurlbert, Elgin Blaine	31 January 1955 - 10 April 1956
07	CAPT. Gerwick, John Day	10 April 1956 - 10 May 1957
08	CAPT. Harlfinger II, Frederick Joseph :VADM	10 May 1957 - 18 July 1958
09	CAPT. Gray Jr., James Seton	18 July 1958 - 22 September 1958
10	CDR. Ragsdale, Charles Clifton	22 September 1958 - 16 December 1958
	Decommissioned	16 December 1958 - 27 November 1961
11	CAPT. O'Neil, Vernon Patrick	27 November 1961 - 19 March 1963
12	CAPT. Alexander, Robert Hoitt	19 March 1963 - 7 February 1964
13	CAPT. Houser, William Douglas (Bill) USN (USNA 1941) :VADM	7 February 1964 - 16 January 1965
14	CAPT. Aldrich, James Hunter USN (USNA 1944)	16 January 1965 - 21 December 1965
15	CAPT. Cooke, Henry Jonathan Hosmer, USN (USNA 1943)	21 December 1965 - 3 December 1966
16	CAPT. Spenser, Ray Arden	3 December 1966 - 26 June 1968
17	CAPT. Bogan, Lewis Frederick, USN (USNA 1944)	26 June 1968 - 10 August 1969
18	CAPT. McKeever, Eugene V.	10 August 1969 - 15 December 1970
19	LCDR. Mahon Jr., Edward Joseph, USN (USNA 1957)	15 December 1970 - 26 February 1971


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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Last Updated 17 June 2022