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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by USS Paricutin web site (Jim Poelstra)

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Paricutin (AE-18)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - India - Echo NUIE

JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Beehive (E)cho - 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 - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (7) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (10)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Mount Hood Class Ammunition Ship:

Laid down, 7 December 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1708) at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C.

Launched, 30 January 1945

Acquired by the Navy and Commissioned, USS Paricutin (AE-18), 3 March 1945

During World War II USS Paricutin was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Decommissioned, 30 April 1948, at San Francisco, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Francisco Group

Recommissioned, 24 June 1950

During the Korean War USS Paricutin participated in the following campaigns

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
Communist China Aggression 22 November 1950 to 24 January 1951	Second Korean Winter 28 to 30 November 1951 15 to 21 December 1951 4 to 12 January 1952 22 January to 6 February 1952 22 February to 1 March 1952 9 to 14 March 1952
First UN Counter Offensive 6 February to 9 April 1951	Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 5 to 16 September 1952 9 to 18 October 1952 8 to 24 November 1952 30 November 1952
Communist China Spring Offensive 25 to 29 April 1951 4 to 14 May 1951 25 May to 7 June 1951 15 to 25 June 1951	Third Korean Winter 1 December and 2 to 30 December 1952 12 to 19 January 1953 22 January to 6 February 1953 14 to 22 February 1953
UN Summer-Fall Offensive 14 to 26 July 1951 10 to 25 August 1951 23 September to 2 October 1951 10 to 19 October 1951 11 to 12 November 1951 26 to 27 November 1951

During the Vietnam War USS Paricutin participated in the following campaigns

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 11 September to 21 September 1964	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 1 to 7 and 21 to 29 July 1968
Vietnam Defense 4 to 12 and 22 to 27 July 1965 7 to 18 August 1965 27 August to 7 September 1965 17 to 27 September 1965 8 to 17 October 1965 23 October to 1 November 1965 8 to 16 November 1965 5 to 14 December 1965	Tet 69/Counteroffensive 1 to 3 June 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 28 December to 7 January 1966 20 to 31 January 1966 10 to 14 February 1966	Vietnam Summer-Fall 23 July to 21 August 1969 28 August to 14 September 1969 20 September to 2 October 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 12 September to 2 October 1966 12 October to 8 November 1966 21 November to 5 December 1966 21 to 29 December 1966 6 to 22 January 1967	Sanctuary Counteroffensive 15 to 27 May 1970 5 to 17 June 1970
Tet Counteroffensive 2 to 17 March 1968 25 March to 1 April 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 23 July to 28 August 1970 6 to 20 September 1970 6 to 16 October 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 2 to 8 April 1968 20 April to 3 May 1968 10 to 14 and 24 to 30 June 1968

Decommissioned, date unknown

Transferred to MARAD for disposal, 29 July 1971

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1973

USS Paricutin earned seven battle stars for the Korean War service and ten campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 16 October 1975, to Levin Metals Corp. (PD-X-1000 dated 4 September 1975) for $1,500.000 in a seven ship sale

Specifications:
Displacement 13,910 t.(fl)
Length 459' 2"
Beam 63'
Draft 28' 3"
Speed 16.4 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 53

Enlisted 244

Largest Boom Capacity 36 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 400,000 Cu ft.

Fuel Capacity

NSFO 10,925 Bbls

Propulsion

one General Electric geared turbine engine

two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 450psi 750°

double General Electric Main Reduction Gear

three turbo-drive Ship's Service Generators, 300Kw 120V/240V D.C.

single propeller, 6,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	160k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18) at right, resupplying USS Manchester (CL 83)** with ammunition, in Wonsan Harbor, North Korea. Photograph dated 12 March 1951. US National Archives photo # 80-G-427259, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives	US Naval Historical Center
	255k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** under way, 8 April 1952 location unknown. Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum file AE 18 126X1-4-52, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.	Darryl Baker
	81k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** during an underway replenishment, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine July 1955	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	24k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	David Hanson for his father Capt. Ralph M. Hanson USN Ret.USS Paricutin
	54k	Bow view of *USS Paricutin* (AE 18) departing Mare Island, 23 April 1956. Paricutin** was undergoing repairs at Mare Island from 11 February. to 23 April 1956. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 29044-4-56, 4/23/56.	Darryl Baker
	55k	Stern view of *USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** departing Mare Island, 23 April 1956. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 29048-4-56, 4/23/56.	Darryl Baker
09051846	139k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18)** departing Mare Island 23 April 1956. US National Archives photo # USN 670061, a US navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Yu Chu
	93k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Chris Kenney USS Paricutin (AE-18)
09051845	51k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18)** underway proceeding southeast in the Channel at Ketchikan, Alaska. April 1956.	Yu Chu
	105k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** outbound to sea from San Diego, CA. passing Point Loma, date unknown. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	114k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18) and USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836)** during underway replenishment, date unknown. US Navy photo.	Ken Dupree, YNCS, USN Ret USS Paricutin
	120k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Mike Smolinski
	90k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) replenishing USS Ranger (CVA-61) and USS Agerholm (DD-826)** in the South China Sea, 16 December 1964. US Navy photo	David Hanson for his father CAPT. Ralph M. Hanson USN (Ret) CO USS Paricutin, 1964-65
	80k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) rearming USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)** in the South China Sea, 26 February 1965. US Navy photo	David Hanson for his father CAPT. Ralph M. Hanson USN (Ret) CO USS Paricutin, 1964-65
	57k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) rearming USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)** in the South China Sea, 26 February 1965. US Navy photo	David Hanson for his father CAPT. Ralph M. Hanson USN (Ret) CO USS Paricutin, 1964-65
	56k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) rearming USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)** in the South China Sea, 26 February 1965. US Navy photo	David Hanson for his father CAPT. Ralph M. Hanson USN (Ret) CO USS Paricutin, 1964-65
	94k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) rearming USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)** in the South China Sea, 26 February 1965. US Navy photo	David Hanson for his father CAPT. Ralph M. Hanson USN (Ret) CO USS Paricutin, 1964-65
	70k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) rearming USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)** in the South China Sea, 26 February 1965. US Navy photo	David Hanson for his father CAPT. Ralph M. Hanson USN (Ret) CO USS Paricutin, 1964-65
	366k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) rearming USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)** in the South China Sea, in September 1966.	Photos by Michael O'Brien
	345k		Photos by Michael O'Brien
09051844	290k	*USS Paricutin* (AE-18) and USS Rowan (DD-782)** conduct a replenishment-at-sea off the coast of Vietnam, mid 1960s.	Yu Chu
	278k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** under way in June 1967. Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum file AE 18 781X1-6-67, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum.	Darryl Baker
	55k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** is left behind as an unidentified aircraft carrier pulls away after completing an underway replenishment of ammunition, date and place unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine August 1967	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	251k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18) pulls away from USS Hector (AR-7) after a receiving a sick/injured Hector crewman to be picked up by a helicopter from USS Ranger (CVA-61)** for surgery.	David Sills USS Hector
	86k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18) and USS Ranger (CVA-61)** during underway replenishment, circa 1967-69. US Navy photo.	Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	55k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, date unknown.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	67k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., date unknown.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	104k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** during ORI training off San Diego, CA. (Note the gun smoke), date unknown.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	158k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** underway for I Corp, Vietnam with full deck load of ammunition, looking aft., date unknown.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	141k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** underway, for I Corp, Vietnam with full deck load of ammunition, looking forward., date unknown.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	88k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** underway, taking aboard empty shell casings from a destroyer alongside, date and location unknown.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	139k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** during highline transfer of personnel between ships while underway.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	69k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	75k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** at anchor at Subic Bay, P.I.. Photo was taken from the ships launch, circa 1967-68.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	87k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** underway online off Vietnam. Breaking out ammunition for an UNREP.1967.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	97k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** during underway replenishment with an unidentified aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam, 1967.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	77k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** between UNREPs off the coast of Vietnam, 1967. George Tarnow is standing on a stack of bombs.	Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin courtesy, George Tarnow, USS Paricutin
	111	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** breaking ammo out of the holds, off the coast of Vietnam, 1967.	Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin courtesy, George Tarnow, USS Paricutin
	96k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** breaking out 2000 lbs. bombs. for unrep off the coast of Vietnam, 1967.	Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin courtesy, George Tarnow, USS Paricutin
	105k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** during unrep alongside an aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam, 1967	Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin courtesy, George Tarnow, USS Paricutin
	95k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** underway and conducting VERTREP operations, during TET offensive 1968.	Photo by Jack Dudenhoefer SM3 USN USS Paricutin
	105k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** moored pierside in a shipyard, date and location unknown.	Courtesy Lyle Hildebrand USS Vega web site
	112k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** under way in 1968, location unknown. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	92k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** moored pierside at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., date unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine April 1970	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	781k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** arriving at Naval Weapon Station Concord, CA., 23 November 1970, with the assistance of Yuma (YTM-748), forward tug, and Owatonna (YTM756). Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum file AE 18 1011X1-11-70, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum.	Darryl Baker
09051848	233k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** inbound from sea passing under the Golden Gate Bridge while entering San Francisco Bay. She is most likely heading for her homeport, Naval Weapons Station Concord, CA., date unknown	Nicholas Tiberio
09051847	130k	*USS Paricutin* (AE 18)** ceramic ashtrays	Yu Chu

USS Paricutin Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Don McGrogan BMCS(SW) Ret Popular Patch	Contributed by Don McGrogan BMCS(SW) Ret Popular Patch	Contributed by Yu Chu Popular Patch

For more photos and information about USS Paricutin, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Commanding Officers
	LT. Guyon, Elmer Edward, USNR (Ferry Command Crew # 1)	3 March 1945 - 6 March 1945
	Decommissioned	6 March 1945 - 25 July 1945
01	LCDR. Kendall, James Edward, USNR	25 July 1945 - 12 December 1945
02	LCDR. Garland, George Thomas, USN	12 December 1945 - 12 March 1946
03	CAPT. Hall, Frederick Sherman, USN (USNA 1922)	12 March 1946 - 15 May 1947
04	LCDR. Parsons, Charles Andres, USN	15 May 1947 - 30 April 1948
	Decommissioned	30 April 1948 - 24 June 1950
05	CAPT. Graybill, Myron Willard, USN (USNA 1927)	28 July 1950 - 8 October 1951
06	CDR. Rogers, George Pearsall, USN (USNA 1932) (Biography)	8 October 1951 - 19 October 1952
07	CDR. Berthisel Jr., Lawerence Hale, USNR	19 October 1952 - 1953
08	CAPT. King, George Edward, USN (USNA 1928)	1953 - ?
09	CAPT. Grissom, Raymond C., USN	January 1956 - February 1957
10	CDR. Hopkins, Robert Hugh, USN (USNA 1934)	February 1957 - ?
11	CAPT. Simonsen, Carl David, USN	September 1959 - 21 September 1960
12	CAPT. Pridmore, James Arthur, USN (USNA 1937)	21 September 1960 - 19 September 1961
13	CAPT. West, Joseph Manget, USN (USNA 1939)	19 September 1961 - 5 October 1962
14	CAPT. Brooks, Sidney	5 October 1962 - 14 October 1963
15	CAPT. Eason Jr., Van Vernon, USN	14 October 1963 - 29 July 1964
16	CAPT. Hanson, Ralph Morgan (Swede), USN (USNA 1943)	29 July 1964 - 24 July 1965
17	CAPT. Stear, David Smiley, USN	24 July 1965 - 14 July 1966
18	CAPT. Clark, William John, USNR	14 July 1966 - 22 June 1967
19	CAPT. Shelton, Doniphan Brown (Don), USN (USNA 1945) :RADM	22 June 1967 - 20 June 1968
20	CAPT. Jones Jr., Allen, USN	20 June 1968 - 11 October 1969
21	CAPT. Brooks, Richard Shelley, USN	11 October 1969 - 29 July 1971


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
"All Hands" magazine - July 1955: Power-Packing AEs Deliver Hot Goods

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 15 July 2022