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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AE-27 / T-AE-27 Butte

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Uniform - Oscar

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation (4)
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (5)
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Lebanon, 1 Op. Restore Hope, Somalia)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Armed Forces Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal


Kilauea Class Ammunition Ship:
  • Laid down, 21 July 1966, at General Dynamics Shipyard, Quincy MA.
  • Launched, 9 August 1967
  • Commissioned, USS Butte (AE-27), 14 December 1968, Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, MA., CAPT. Wallace M. Riggs in command
  • During the Vietnam War Butte (AE-27) participated in the:
  • Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign
    6 and 8 to 14 February 1973
    22 February to 3 March 1973
    28 March 1973
  • Decommissioned, 3 June 1996 and placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Butte (T-AE-27)
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 24 May 24, 2004
  • Final Disposition, disposed of as a target in support of fleet training exercises, 30 June 2006
  • Butte earned one campaign star for service during the Vietnam War
    Specifications:
    Displacement 11,915 t.(lt) 19.937 t.(fl)
    Length 564'
    Beam 81'
    Draft 31'
    Speed 21 kts.
    Complement
    USS 402
    USNS 125 Civilian Mariners, 55 Navy
    Cargo Capacity 60,000 cu ft/6,000t. ammunition
    Armament four twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    Aircraft two UH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
    Propulsion three Foster-Wheeler 600psi boilers, one steam turbine, single six bladed fixed propeller, 22,000hp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Butte 190k Butte (AE-27) while under construction at General Dynamics, Quincy MA. Note: Riggers lowering bow section Butteinto place.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine September 1968.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Butte 79k Butte (AE-27) underway during sea trials in 1968.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine March 1970.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Butte 95k Butte (AE-27) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine October 1970.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Butte 49k Butte (AE-27) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo
    .
    Butte 77k Butte (AE-27) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo
    .
    Butte 50k Butte (AE-27) underway, date and place unknown.
    ©Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.
    Mike Smolinski
    Butte 61k Butte (AE-27) underway in the Ionian Sea in 1993. CDR. Dave Wood USN Ret. ex-CO USS Butte
    Butte 78k Butte (AE-27) and Charleston (LKA-113) laid up at the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Philadelphia, PA., September 2004 Photo by Jon White STG-3, USS Luce, 1985-87
    Butte 77k Butte (AE-27) and El Paso (LKA-117), Moosbrugger (DD 980) and John Hancock (DD 981) laid up at the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Philadelphia, PA., September 2004 Photo by Jon White STG-3, USS Luce, 1985-87
    Butte 51k Ex-Butte (AE-27) with her back broken and sinking during SINKEX, 30 June 2006. Photo by Paul Shepard TJ Tropea
    Butte 44k Ex-Butte (AE-27) with her back broken and sinking during SINKEX, 30 June 2006. Photo by Paul Shepard TJ Tropea

    View the Butte (AE-27)
    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
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Ammunition Ship (AE) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 20 July 2007