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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski, patch at right by Tommy Trampp

USNS Butte (T-AE-27)
ex
 USS Butte (AE-27) (1970 - 1998)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Uniform - Oscar
NWUO
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 (2)
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (5) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Lebanon, 1 Op. Restore Hope, Somalia) - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Armed Forces Service 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 USS Butte (AE-27) participated in the following campaign:
    Vietnam War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    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
  • USS Butte earned one campaign star for service during the Vietnam War
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,340 t.(lt) 19,940 t.(fl)
    Length 564'
    Beam 81'
    Draft 29'
    Speed 20 kts.
    Complement
    MSC 125 -133 Civilian Mariners
    Naval Detachment 30
    Cargo Capacity 60,000 cu ft 6,000DWT
    Armament
    USS - four twin 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    USNS - none
    Aircraft two MH60S Seahawk helicopters
    Propulsion
    one General Electric turbine
    three Foster-Wheeler 600psi boilers
    single six blade fixed propeller, 22,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Butte 190k PCU Butte (AE-27) while under construction at General Dynamics, Quincy MA. Note: Riggers lowering bow section Butte into place.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine September 1968.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Kilauea 326k PCU Butte (AE-27), background, and PCU Kilauea (AE 26), foreground, christening ceremonies, 9 August 1967, at General Dynamics, Quincy, MA. S. Dale Hargrave
    Butte 79k USS 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 USS Butte (AE-27) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine October 1970.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Butte 753k USS Butte (AE-27) at anchor at San Remo, Italy, 23 April 1972 Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    Butte 727k USS Butte (AE-27) at anchor off Naval Base Subic Bay, Phillippines, circa summer 1973. Photo by CDR Michael Cosgrove USN Ret. USS Conquest
    Butte 49k USS Butte (AE-27) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		  
    Butte 77k USS Butte (AE-27) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		  
    Butte 50k USS Butte (AE-27) underway, date and location unknown.
    ©Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.     		Mike Smolinski
    Butte 61k USS Butte (AE-27) underway in the Ionian Sea in 1993. CDR. Dave Wood USN Ret. ex-CO USS Butte
    Butte 78k USS Butte (AE-27) and USS 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 USS Butte (AE-27) and USS El Paso (LKA-117), USS Moosbrugger (DD 980) and USS 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-USS Butte (AE-27) with her back broken and sinking during SINKEX, 30 June 2006. Photo by Paul Shepard TJ Tropea
    Butte 44k Ex-USS Butte (AE-27) with her back broken and sinking during SINKEX, 30 June 2006. Photo by Paul Shepard TJ Tropea

    For more photos and information about USS/USNS Butte, see:
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • US Navy Fact File - Ammunition Ships T-AE
  • AE/AOE Sailors Association
  • Commanding Officers
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 27 April 2012