Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26)
ex
 USS Kilauea (AE-26) (1968 - 1980)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Sierra - Hotel - India
NSHI
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Unit Commendation (3) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Persian Gulf, 1-Unidentified) - Vietnam Service Medal (4) - Southwest Asia Service Medal
Fourth Row - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Boat People) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Kilauea Class Ammunition Ship:
  • Laid down, 10 March 1966, at General Dynamics, Quincy, MA.
  • Launched, 9 August 1967
  • Commissioned, USS Kilauea (AE-26), 10 August 1968
  • During the Vietnam War USS Kilauea (AE-26) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaign
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    7 to 23 August 1970
    1 to 25 September 1970
    1 to 2 October 1970
    12 to 24 October 1970
    2 to 11 November 1970
    30 November to 11 December 1970
    5 January to 26 January 1971     		Consolidation II
    1 to 8 December 1971
    25 December 1971 to 3 January 1972
    12 to 21 January 1972
    28 January to 22 February 1972
    5 to 29 March 1972
    Consolidation I
    3 to 11 September 1971
    22 to 30 September 1971
    19 to 26 October 1971
    5 to 24 November 1971     		Vietnam Ceasefire
    30 March to 15 April 1972
    21 April to 6 May 1972
    13 to 23 May 1972
    30 May to 12 June 1972

  • Decommissioned. and placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26), 1 October 1980
  • USNS Kilauea is part of the 33 ship Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (PM1) currently in reduced operating status (ROS 90)
  • Kilauea was towed from San Francisco, 28 March 2008, bound for Point Hueneme and ultimately for lay up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Pearl Harbor
  • USS Kilauea earned four campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 11,915 t.(lt) 20,169 t.(fl)
    Length 564'
    Beam 81'
    Draft 29'
    Speed 20 kts.
    Complement (MSC) 125 Civilian Mariners, 55 Navy
    Cargo Capacity 60,000 cu ft/6,000 t. ammunition
    Armament four twin 3"/50 gun mounts
    Aircraft two UH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
    Propulsion three Foster-Wheeler 600psi boilers, one steam turbine, one six blade fixed propeller, 22,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Kilauea (AE-26)
    Kilauea 109k USS Kilauea (AE-26) getting underway for the first time, circa-August 1968, Quincy, MA.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine September 1968    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Kilauea 89k USS Kilauea (AE-26) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine June 1970    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Wichita 70k USS Kilauea (AE-26) and USS Wichita (AOR-1) exchange provisions during a training exercise, date and place unknown..
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1970.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Kilauea 67k USS Kilauea (AE-26) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Kilauea 72k USS Kilauea (AE-26) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Kilauea 92k USS Kilauea (AE-26) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Kilauea 62k USS Kilauea (AE-26) and an unidentified destroyer during a refreshment at sea in 1972. Photo by Tom Sparkman
    Kilauea 70k USS Kilauea (AE-26) underway, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26)
    Kilauea 68k USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 MSC web site
    Kilauea 827k USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26) outbound, approaching the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, outbound for sea, 28 July 2007. Photo by CAPT. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG Ret.
    Kilauea 90k USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26) under flat tow, 24 March 2008. She was being towed alongside by commercial tugs from her berth to anchorage 7 east of Treasure Island. There she was picked up by USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169) and towed to sea Photos by CAPT. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG Ret.
    Kilauea 99k
    Kilauea 73k
    Kilauea 54k
    Kilauea 54k
    Navajo 149k USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169) underway, 24 March 2008, with flat tow USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26) outbound to sea. Charles Tompkins
    Navajo 94k
    Navajo 57k USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26) hand-off from commercial tugs to USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169) off Treasure Island and passing under the Golden Gate Bridge as see from Navajo, 24 March 2008. Fred Woody
    Navajo 55k
    Navajo 52k
    Navajo 55k
    Navajo 54k
    View the USS Kilauea (AE-26)
    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
    US Navy Fact File - Ammunition Ships T-AE
    "AE" Sailors Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Ammunition Ship (AE) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 16 May 2008