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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

USNS Santa Barbara (T-AE-28)
ex
 USS Santa Barbara (AE-28) (1970 - 1998)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Xray - Uniform
NDXU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (4) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row -Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Op. Restore Hope, Somalia) - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Southwest Asia Service Medal (2)
Fourth row - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Kilauea Class Ammunition Ship:
  • Laid down, 30 December 1966, at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Inc, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 23 January 1968
  • Commissioned, USS Santa Barbara (AE-28), 11 July 1970, CAPT. Charles A. Whitmore USN in command
  • During the Vietnam War Santa Barbara (AE-28) participated in the following campaign:
    Vietnam War Campaign
    Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign
    26 July to 7 August 1972
    14 to 23 August 1972
    8 to 14 September 1972
    22 September to 3 October 1972
    24 October to 5 November 1972
    12 November to 3 December 1972
    11 to 21 December 1972
    6 to 18 January 1973

  • USS Santa Barbara was deployed in December 1990 to the Red Sea during Operation Desert Shield.
    She remained on station in the Red Sea during January 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, delivering over
    7,000 tons of ammunition during the Desert war
  • Decommissioned, 25 September 1998, at Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, S.C.
  • Placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC), 1 October 1998 as USNS Santa Barbara (T-AE-28)
  • Santa Barbara is one of the Sealift Commands six Ammunition Ships and is part of the 37 ships in the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force
  • While assigned to MSC Santa Barbara was in Ready Operational Status 45 until downgraded to planned disposal, 3 August 2005
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 3 August 2005
  • Final Disposition, scrapping contract awarded to ESCO, Brownsville, TX., 9 November 2006
  • USS Santa Barbara earned one campaign star 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) full operational status - 125 Civilian Mariners, 55 Navy
    (MSC) reduced operational status, 12 Civilian Mariners
    Cargo Capacity 60,000 cu ft/6,000t. ammunition
    Armament four twin 3"/50 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
    USS Santa Barbara (AE-28)
    Santa Barbara 62k USS Santa Barbara (AE-28) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 MSC web site
    Santa Barbara 41k USS Santa Barbara (AE-28) underway, date and location unknown.
    ©Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk VA.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Santa Barbara 88k USS Santa Barbara (T-AE-28) underway while conducting Vertical Replenishment (VertRep) weapons on-load with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), off the Virginia coast, sometime during 20 or 21 October 1995. The crates of ordnance are being transferred from Santa Barbara to USS Theodore Roosevelt via CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.
    US Navy photo.    		 Edward Cleary
    Santa Barbara 153k Ex-Santa Barbara (T-AE-28) being scrapped at ESCO, Brownsville, TX., 15 November 2006. Forward of Santa Barbara are ex-Des Moines (CA-134) also being scrapped, and ex-Texas A&M USTS Texas Clipper I [ex-Queens (APA-103)] which is being prepared for sinking as an artificial reef. Photo by Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX.
    Santa Barbara 136k Ex-Santa Barbara (T-AE-28) being scrapped at ESCO, Brownsville, TX., 15 November 2006. Forward of Santa Barbara are ex-Des Moines (CA-134) also being scrapped. Photo by Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX.
    Santa Barbara 114k Ex-Santa Barbara (T-AE-28) with part of her bow removed while being scrapped at ESCO, Brownsville, TX., in February 2007. Photo by Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX.
    View the USS Santa Barbara (AE-28)
    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
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    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 February 2007