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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Mauna Loa (AE-8)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Whiskey - Hotel
NAWH
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Elbow Uniform
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Citation - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam, 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
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    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:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    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
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Administrative custody transfer to the Maritime Administration, 20 March 1984
  • Final Disposition, believed scrapped
  • Mauna Loa received three battle stars for World War II service and three campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    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
    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 Contributed
    By
    Mauna Loa 46k PCU Mauna Loa (AE-8) launching, 14 April 1943 at Tampa Shipbuilding Corp., Tampa, FL.
    Photo from Hampton Dunn Collection.    		 J.D. Smith
    Mauna Loa 74k USS Mauna Loa (AE-8) at anchor, date and location unknown.  
    Newport News 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
    Mauna Loa 108k USS Mauna Loa (AE-8) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1959.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Springfield 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
    Mauna Loa 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.    		 Robert Hurst

    For more photos and information about USS Mauna Loa, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • ©New York Times, 27 July 1957 - "FIRE ON ARMS SHIP SCARES CITY AREA"
  • AE/AOE Sailors Association
  • Commanding Officers
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 22 July 2011