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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:

    Korean Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates 1951-52 Campaigns and Dates 1953
    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:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    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)
    Rainier
    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
    Rainier
    09050527
    113k
    Rainier
    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
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 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.
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 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
    Rainier
    09050525
    310k USS Rainier (AE-5) underway in San Francisco Bay off Oakland, CA., date unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Rainier 30k USS Rainier (AE-5) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 19k USS Rainier (AE-5) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 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.
    Rainier 43k USS Rainier (AE-5) during underway replenishment with USS Lexington (CV-16)
    in August 1957.
    US Navy photo
     
    Rainier 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
    Rainier 148k USS Rainier (AE-5) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Mike Smolinski
    Rainier 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.
    Rainier 25k USS Rainier (AE-5) underway, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR, Ret.
    Rainier
    09050524
    215k USS Rainier (AE-5) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Rainier 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
    Rainier
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Rainier
    Decal contributed by Wolfgang Hechler
    Rainier
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp
    Rainier
    Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler
    Rainier
    1966 Deck Ape Patch Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler
    Rainier
    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
    01CAPT. Meek, William Woodruff, USN (USNA 1913)21 December 1941 - 20 February 1943
    02CDR. Miller, Raleigh Bryan, USN (USNA 1919)20 February 1943 - 8 May 1944
    03CDR. Conner, Frederick Sears, USN8 May 1944 - 1946
    04CAPT. Wickens, Justin Leo, USN1946 - 30 August 1946
      Decommissioned30 August 1946 - 25 May 1951
    05CAPT. McIver Jr., DeWitt Clinton, USN (USNA 1932)25 May 1951 - 15 July 1952
    07CAPT. Morrison, William Fisher, USN (USNA 1935) :RADM15 July 1952 - 1954
    08CAPT. Williams Jr., Robert Russellm USN (USNA 1934)1954 - 1955
    09CAPT. Smith III, William Robinson, USN (USNA 1934) :RADM1955 - 5 October 1956
    10CAPT. Groner, William Trygve, USN (USNA 1936)5 October 1956 - 21 December 1957
    11CAPT. Morrison, William Fisher, USN (USNA 1935) :RADM21 December 1957 - 24 January 1959
    12CAPT. Bottomley Jr., Harold Sydney, USN (USNA 1937)24 January 1959 - 8 January 1960
    13CAPT. Wright, William Harry, USN (USNA 1936)8 January 1960 - 20 January 1961
    14CAPT. Bullard, George Clough, USN (USNA 1938) :RADM20 January 1961 - 6 November 1961
    15CAPT. Thompson Jr., Joseph Ernest, uSN6 November 1961 - 28 June 1963
    16CAPT. Barnett, Marvin Everett, USN28 June 1963 - 4 August 1964
    17CAPT. Forde, Lambert Vernon (Larry), USN (USNA 1941)4 August 1964 - 20 August 1965
    18CAPT. Moran, William Joseph, USN :VADM20 August 1965 -5 August 1966
    19CAPT. O'Rourke, Vincent Patrick, USN 5 August 1966 - 2 August 1967
    20CAPT. Smith, John Calvin, USN (USNA 1947)2 August 1967 - 15 January 1969
    21CAPT. Sanderson, James Richard (Sandy), USN :VADM15 January 1969 - 13 March 1970
    22CAPT. Aicklen Jr., William Joseph, USN (USNA 1947)13 March 1970 - 21 July 1970
    23LCDR. Tollinger Jr., John Nedric, USN21 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