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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
Voice Call -"Elbow Uniform"

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (3) - 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

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 26' 5"
Speed 15.3 kts.
Complement 281
Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
Cargo capacity 5,000 DWT
Propulsion diesel, single shaft, 6,000hp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
74k	*USS Mauna Loa* (AE-8)** at anchor, date and place 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
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.
227k	*USS Springfield* (CLG-7) breaking away from USS Mauna Loa (AE-8)** after completing a replinishment at sea while in the Mediterrean Sea, circa 1965.	William C. Swisher

View the USS Mauna Loa (AE-8)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
"AE" Sailors Association

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Last Updated 15 February 2008