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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Rainier (AE-5)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Uniform - Delta
NAUD
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Falter (I)ndia - 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 Commendation
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Second Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (4)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Taiwan Straits, Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Lassen Class Ammunition Ship:

Laid down, 14 May 1940, as SS Rainbow, a Maritime Commission type (C2-T Cargo) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 124), at Tampa Shipbuilding Corp., Tampa, FL.

Launched, 1 March 1941

Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, 16 April 1941

Commissioned USS Rainier (AE-5), 21 December 1941, CAPT. William W. Meek in command

Decommissioned, 30 April 1946, at San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Recommissioned, 25 May 1951

During the Korean War USS Rainier (AE-5) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates 1951-52	Campaigns and Dates 1953
Korean Service Medal
Second Korean Winter 30 November to 9 December 1951 20 December 1951 to 2 January 1952 16 to 24 January 1952 4 February 1952 6 to 16 February 1952 28 February to10 March 1952 17 to 19 March 1952 15 to 25 April 1952	Third Korean Winter 10 to 15 February 1953 26 February to 3 March 1953 18 to 28 March 1953 9 to 15 April 1953 25 to 30 April 1953
Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 12 to 23 May 1952 8 to 20 June 1952 5 to 6 July 1952 15 to 25 July 1952 3 to 9 August 1952	Korea, Summer-Fall 1953 1 to 2 May 1953 11 to 21 May 1953 9 to 17 June 1953 23 June to 1 July 1953 10 to 18 July 1953

During the Vietnam War USS Rainier (AE-5) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 5 to 13 August 1964 22 August to 13 September 1964 2 to 4, 9 to 11, 21 23 October 1964 29 June to 3 July 1965	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 30 July to 15 August 1968 25 August to 5 September 1968 15 to 25 September 1968 10 to 17 October 1968
Vietnam Defense 4 to 7 July 1965 11 to 20 July 1965 26 July to 5 August 1965 13 to 21 August 1965 1 to 11 September 1965 25 September to 5 October 1965 12 to 24 October 1965 30 October to 9 November 1965 17 to 29 November 1965 12 to 22 December 1965	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 2 to 11 November 1968 20 November to 2 December 1968 17 December 1968 to 1 January 1969 10 to 19 January 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 28 March to 8 April 1967 18 April to 6 March 1967 18 to 31 May 1967	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1970 15 September to 4 October 1969 12 to 31 October 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 1 to 6 June 1967 21 June to 9 July 1967	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 1 to 11 November 1969 1 to 15 December 1969 24 December to 8 January 1970 16 January to 7 February 1970 21 February to 9 March 1970

Decommissioned and Struck from the Naval Register, 7 August 1970

USS Rainier earned four battle stars for Korean war service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with seven campaign stars for Vietnam war service

Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, 17 November 1970, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 7 September 1971, to Union Minerals and Alloys Corp., (PD-X-915, dated 12 August 1971), for $51,287.54, delivered, 20 September 1971

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

Complement

Officers 21

Enlisted 260

Largest Boom Capacity 10 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 387,000 Cu ft., 5,000 DWT

Fuel Capacity 10,925 Bbls

Propulsion

two Nordberg Diesel, TSM219 Diesel engine

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

Ship's Service Generators

four 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	Source
USS Rainier (AE-5)
09050526	165k	The C2-T cargo vessel *Rainbow, under construction at Tampa Shipbuilding, 1941. In the same time Rainbow* will be modified by the Navy to be ammunition ship *USS Rainier* (AE-5)*. Photos by George Strock, Life Magazine.* Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.	John Chiquoine
09050527	113k		John Chiquoine
09050523	199k	View of *USS Rainier* (AE-5)** bridge while at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 15 April 1942. Note 1.1" anti-aircraft guns on each bridge wing. U.S. National Archives, Catalog No. 19-N-29183 a U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Mike Green
	111k	Amidships plan view of *USS Rainier* (AE-5)** at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 15 June 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # AE-5 4389-43, 6/15/43.	Darryl Baker
	55k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** under way off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 20 June 1943. US Navy photo	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	61k	Broadside view of *USS Rainier* (AE-5)** off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 30 June 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # AE-5 4540-43, 6/30/43.	Darryl Baker
	65k	Bows on view of *USS Rainier* (AE-5)** off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 30 June 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # AE-5 4542-43, 6/30/43.	Darryl Baker
	55k	Stern view of *USS Rainier* (AE-5)** off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 30 June 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # AE-5 4544-43, 6/30/43.	Darryl Baker
09050525	310k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** underway in San Francisco Bay off Oakland, CA., date unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
	30k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	95k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** off Mare Island Navy Yard, 28 September 1944. US. National Archives, RG-19-LCM, photo # 19-N-73188, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
	101k	Aft plan view of *USS Rainier* (AE-5) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 2 October 1944. Rainier was in overhaul at the yard from 20 August to 3 October 1944. YHB-21, the ex auto ferry, Tamalpais and four berthing barges including YF-508 were moored across from Rainier*. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # AE-5 6006-44*.	Darryl Baker
	110k	Forward plan view of *USS Rainier* (AE-5) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 2 October 1944. Rainier was in overhaul at the yard from 20 August to 3 October 1944. Vessels in the background from left to right are YHB-2 (ex Port of Stockton), four berthing barges and YHB-21** (ex Tamalpais). US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # AE-5 6009-44.	Darryl Baker
	19k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	116k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5) replenishing USS Antietam (CV-36) and USS Wisconsin (BB-64)** off Korea, 8 February 1952. Note the relative sizes of the three ships. US Navy photo # 80-G-649648 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
	135k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5) replenishing USS Antietam (CV-36) and USS Wisconsin (BB-64)** off Korea, 8 February 1952. US Navy photo	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	43k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5) during underway replenishment with USS Lexington (CV-16)** in August 1957. US Navy photo
	62k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5) underway, date and location unknown. Photo taken from USS Vesuvius (AE-15)** in March 1970	Photo by Darrell Inskeep via USS Rainier (AE-5) web site
	148k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Mike Smolinski
	53k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5) underway with USS Hancock (CVA-19) as the carrier prepares to take her station alongside Rainier** for underway replenishment of ammunitions, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1964.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	25k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** underway, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR, Ret.
09050524	215k	*USS Rainier* (AE-5)** underway, date and location unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
	401k	William J. Aicklen Jr. relieves CAPT. James R. Sanderson of the command of *USS Rainier* (AE-5)**, 13 March 1970, at Naval Weapons Station Concord, CA. Seated left to right; LCDR Robinson (Chaplain), CAPT. Sanderson behind the lectern and LCDR Zollinger (Executive Officer)	Darryl Baker

USS Rainier Miscellaneous and Additional Ships Patches and Decals
Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Decal contributed by Wolfgang Hechler	Contributed by Tommy Trampp	Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler	1966 Deck Ape Patch Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler	August 1966 Change of Command Program cover

For more photos and information about USS Rainier, see:
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

MARAD Vessel History Database
AE/AOE Sailors Association

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Meek, William Woodruff, USN (USNA 1913)	21 December 1941 - 20 February 1943
02	CDR. Miller, Raleigh Bryan, USN (USNA 1919)	20 February 1943 - 8 May 1944
03	CDR. Conner, Frederick Sears, USN	8 May 1944 - 1946
04	CAPT. Wickens, Justin Leo, USN	1946 - 30 August 1946
	Decommissioned	30 August 1946 - 25 May 1951
05	CAPT. McIver Jr., DeWitt Clinton, USN (USNA 1932)	25 May 1951 - 15 July 1952
07	CAPT. Morrison, William Fisher, USN (USNA 1935) :RADM	15 July 1952 - 1954
08	CAPT. Williams Jr., Robert Russellm USN (USNA 1934)	1954 - 1955
09	CAPT. Smith III, William Robinson, USN (USNA 1934) :RADM	1955 - 5 October 1956
10	CAPT. Groner, William Trygve, USN (USNA 1936)	5 October 1956 - 21 December 1957
11	CAPT. Morrison, William Fisher, USN (USNA 1935) :RADM	21 December 1957 - 24 January 1959
12	CAPT. Bottomley Jr., Harold Sydney, USN (USNA 1937)	24 January 1959 - 8 January 1960
13	CAPT. Wright, William Harry, USN (USNA 1936)	8 January 1960 - 20 January 1961
14	CAPT. Bullard, George Clough, USN (USNA 1938) :RADM	20 January 1961 - 6 November 1961
15	CAPT. Thompson Jr., Joseph Ernest, uSN	6 November 1961 - 28 June 1963
16	CAPT. Barnett, Marvin Everett, USN	28 June 1963 - 4 August 1964
17	CAPT. Forde, Lambert Vernon (Larry), USN (USNA 1941)	4 August 1964 - 20 August 1965
18	CAPT. Moran, William Joseph, USN :VADM	20 August 1965 -5 August 1966
19	CAPT. O'Rourke, Vincent Patrick, USN	5 August 1966 - 2 August 1967
20	CAPT. Smith, John Calvin, USN (USNA 1947)	2 August 1967 - 15 January 1969
21	CAPT. Sanderson, James Richard (Sandy), USN :VADM	15 January 1969 - 13 March 1970
22	CAPT. Aicklen Jr., William Joseph, USN (USNA 1947)	13 March 1970 - 21 July 1970
23	LCDR. Tollinger Jr., John Nedric, USN	21 July 1970 - 7 August 1970


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 16 February 2024