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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan BMCS, USN (Ret.) - Popular Patch

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Mount Baker (AE-4)
ex
USS Kilauea (AE-4) (1941 - 1943)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Echo - Juliet
NCEJ
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Debark (I)ndia - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korea Service Medal (4) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Taiwan Straits, Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (7)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Lassen Class Ammunition Ship

Laid down, date unknown, as MV Surprise a Maritime Commission type (C2-T Cargo) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 24) at Tampa Shipbuilding Corp., Tampa, FL.

Launched, date unknown

Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, 14 November 1940

Converted to an Ammunition Ship at Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, AL.

Commissioned USS Kilauea (AE-4), 16 May 1941, Capt. W. I. Causey in command

Renamed USS Mount Baker (AE-4), 17 March 1943

During World War II USS Kilauea / Mount Baker was assigned to both the Europe-Africa-Middle East and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters

Decommissioned in January 1947 at San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Recommissioned, 5 December 1951, Capt. Richard Mueller Nixon in command

During the Korean War USS Mount Baker participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean Service Medal
Second Korean Winter 23 March to 3 April 1952 21 to 30 April 1952	Korean Summer-Fall 1953 3 to 8 May 1953 23 May to 5 June 1953 14 to 24 June 1953 30 June to 10 July 1953 25 to 27 July 1953
Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 1 to 5 May 1952 18 to 29 May 1952 20 June to 1 July 1952 26 July to 2 August 1952 10 to 23 August 1952 16 to 30 September 1952 16 to 27 October 1952	Third Korean Winter 4 March 1953 14 to 17 March 1953 1 to 6 April 19 53 17 to 22 April 1953

During the Vietnam War USS Mount Baker participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 13 to 19 January 1965 23 January to 14 February 1965 3 to 21 May 1965 27 May to 5 June 1965 8 to 18 June 1965	Tet Counteroffensive 30 January to 2 February 1968 24 February to 10 March 1968 18 to 29 March 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 13 to 28 February 1966 16 to 25 March 1966 16 to 26 April 1966 22 May to 3 June 1966 14 to 19 June 1966 23 to 30 June 1966	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 27 November to 3 December 1968 10 to 19 December 1968 19 to 31 January 1969 12 to 22 February 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 1 to 10 July 1966 1 to 12 August 1966 20 September to 11 October 1966 25 October to 10 November 1966	Tet 69/Counteroffensive 23 February 1969 12 to 22 March 1969 31 March to 16 April 1969 25 April to 6 May 1969 14 to 23 May 1969 5 to 8 June 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 30 October to 27 November 1967 17 December 1967 to 5 January 1968 12 to 14 January 1968 22 to 29 January 1968	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 to 12 June 1969

Decommissioned, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 2 December 1969

USS Mount Baker earned four battle stars for Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Title transferred, 15 March 1974, to the Maritime Administration, for disposal

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 15 March 1974, to Seangyong Trading Co., Ltd, Seoul, South Korea, delivered 23 April 1974

Specifications:
Displacement 6,350 t.(lt) 14,225t.(fl)
Length 459'
Beam 63'
Draft 25' 11"
Speed 15.3 kts (trial)

Complement

Officers 21

Enlisted 260

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

eight twin 20mm AA gun mounts

Cargo Capacity 5,000 DWT

non-refrigerated 387,000 Cu ft.

Fuel Capacity 10,925 Bbls

Propulsion

two Nordberg Diesel, TSM219 Diesel engine

single Falk Main Reduction Gears
Ship's Service Generators
four Diesel-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C.
one Diesel-drive 150Kw 120V/240V D.C.

single propeller, 6,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Kilauea (AE-4)
09050427	224k	The C2 cargo vessel *Surprise* being modified at Alabama Shipbuilding to become the ammunition ship Kilauea (AE-4), mid-1941. Photos by George Strock, Life Magazine. Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.	John Chiquoine
09050428	172k
09050429	172k
09050430	99k
09050431	111k
USS Mount Baker (AE-4)
	306k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4) alongside USS Missouri (BB-63)** while conducting a replenishment at sea, date and location unknown.	Michael Mohl
	365k
	350k
	286k
	366k
	153k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4) alongside USS Chara (AKA-58)** while conducting a transfer between ships during the Korea War, circa 1951-52.	David Kusel courtesy Wilbur Karsten USS Chara
	135k
	94k
	280k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4) conducting an underway replenishment with the cruiser USS Helena (CA-75) and the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVA-37)*,/a> in 1952 off Korea. US Navy photo Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum File AE 4 139X2-7-52 TH*.	Darryl Baker
	102k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** arriving at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., for overhaul. USS Mount Baker underwent repairs at Mare Island from 9 November 1953 to 20 January 1954. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 19287-11-53, 11/9/53	Darryl Baker
	305k	CAPT. Adolph J Petersen USN (left) relieves CAPT Theodore H. Brittan on 3 November 1953 of the command of *USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** while the ship was at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. US Navy photo, courtesy Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.	Darryl Baker
	129k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** berthed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard with Vallejo in the background, circa 1953-1954. The ship was in overhaul at Mare Island from 9 November 1953 to 17 January 1954. Note that much of the Vallejo waterfront area has been bulldozed for redevelopment. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
09050423	118k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** off San Francisco Naval Shipyard, 16 December 1955, following a regular overhaul. U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN-AE-4 Mt. Baker-153710. This image is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6927518	Robert Hurst
	93k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4) departing Naval Shipyard Mare Island on trials, 3 September 1957. Mount Baker** was undergoing repairs at Mare Island from 21 June to 10 September 1957. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 36384-9-57, 9/3/57	Darryl Baker
	46k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** overhead view, at anchor, date and location unknown.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	46k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** underway, date and location unknown	"AE" Sailors Association
	608k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** passing under the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco, date unknown.	Phil Bird LTjg MPA USS Mount Baker
	327k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** moored to a buoy, location unknown, circa 1960. US Navy Photo courtesy Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.	Darryl Baker
	208k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** under way, date and location unknown US Navy Photo	Mike Smolinski
09050424	249k	CAPT. Norman E. White, USN (at podium) reads his orders relieving CAPT. Louis P. Pressler, USN (standing behind White) as Commanding Officer of *USS Mt. Baker* (AE-4)** at NAD Concord, CA., 8 April 1963. LCDR Vernon E. Stenberg (CHC) is Chaplain at NAD Conocord. U.S. Navy photo from the collectiosn of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, Vallejo, CA.	Darryl Baker
	484k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4) and USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14)** during an underway replenishment off the coast of California, 2 September 1965. Carrier Air Wing (CAW-5) deployed with USS Ticonderoga from 1960 to 1966. The A4 Skyhawk aircraft visible on the flight deck belong to *VA-56* "Champions" and *VA-144* "Roadrunners." .US Navy photo CVA-14-2854-9-65 9/2/65.	Phil Bird LTjg MPA USS Mount Baker
	100k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with USS Paul Revere (APA-248) and USS Valley Forge (LPH-8)** during a WestPac deployment, circa 1960-1962. US Navy photo.	Charles Schiele, Radioman, Comservron Three
09050422	300k	*USS Mount Baker* (AE-4)** inbound from sea passing under the Golden Gate Bridge as she enters San Francisco Bay, date unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio

USS Mount Baker (AE-4)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers

01 CAPT. Causey Jr., William Isiah USN (USNA 1913) 16 May 1941 - 15 June 1942

02 LCDR. Hamblin, Francis Dow 15 June 1942 - 20 June 1942

03 CDR. Brashears Jr., George Washington USNR 20 June 1942 - 23 June 1944

04 LCDR. Brooks, Leroy Robert USNR 23 June 1944 - 28 May 1945

05 LCDR. Perry, Emil Bates USN 28 May 1945 - 7 February 1946

06 LCDR. Domingues, Milton P. USNR 7 February 1946 - 15 August 1946

Decommissioned 15 August 1946 - 5 December 1951

07 CAPT. Nixon, Richard Mueller USN (USNA 1930) 5 December 1951 - 3 November 1952

08 CAPT. Brittan, Theodore Harry 3 November 1952 - November 1953

09 CAPT. Petersen, Adolph John USN 3 November 1953 - 21 December 1954

10 CAPT. Klein, Doyan USN (USNA 1935) 21 December 1954 - 6 February 1956

11 CAPT. Stewart, William Sidney USN (USNA 1937) 6 February 1956 - 2 March 1957

12 CAPT. Odening, Robert Ernest USN (USNA 1936) 2 March 1957 - 27 May 1958

13 CAPT. Slaughter, John Sim (Jack) USN (USNA 1937) 27 May 1958 - 13 August 1959

14 CAPT. Gugliotta, Guy Frank USN (USNA 1938) 13 August 1959 - 27 May 1960

15 CAPT. Privette Jr., William Garland USN 27 May 1960 - 4 May 1961

16 CAPT. Dobie Jr., Ernest William (Bill) USN (USNA 1940) :RADM 4 May 1961 - 2 April 1962

17 CAPT. Pressler, Louis Philip USN 2 April 1962 - 8 April 1963

18 CAPT. White, Norman Edward USN (USNA 1943) 8 April 1963 - 25 February 1964

19 CAPT. Gallagher Jr., Thomas James USN 25 February 1964 - 27 March 1965

20 CAPT. Tyler, Claude Leonidus USN 27 March 1965 - 28 March 1966

21 CAPT. Wolf, Robert Lowell USN (USNA 1944) 28 March 1966 - 3 March 1967

22 CAPT. Stankowski Sr., Robert John USN 3 March 1967 - 21 June 1968

23 CAPT. Hoke Sr., Charles Hearn USN 21 June 1968 - 1 October 1969

24 LCDR. Henry Jr., John Archie 1 October 1969 - 2 December 1969

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Database

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

Last Updated 6 October 2023

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Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Causey Jr., William Isiah USN (USNA 1913)	16 May 1941 - 15 June 1942
02	LCDR. Hamblin, Francis Dow	15 June 1942 - 20 June 1942
03	CDR. Brashears Jr., George Washington USNR	20 June 1942 - 23 June 1944
04	LCDR. Brooks, Leroy Robert USNR	23 June 1944 - 28 May 1945
05	LCDR. Perry, Emil Bates USN	28 May 1945 - 7 February 1946
06	LCDR. Domingues, Milton P. USNR	7 February 1946 - 15 August 1946
	Decommissioned	15 August 1946 - 5 December 1951
07	CAPT. Nixon, Richard Mueller USN (USNA 1930)	5 December 1951 - 3 November 1952
08	CAPT. Brittan, Theodore Harry	3 November 1952 - November 1953
09	CAPT. Petersen, Adolph John USN	3 November 1953 - 21 December 1954
10	CAPT. Klein, Doyan USN (USNA 1935)	21 December 1954 - 6 February 1956
11	CAPT. Stewart, William Sidney USN (USNA 1937)	6 February 1956 - 2 March 1957
12	CAPT. Odening, Robert Ernest USN (USNA 1936)	2 March 1957 - 27 May 1958
13	CAPT. Slaughter, John Sim (Jack) USN (USNA 1937)	27 May 1958 - 13 August 1959
14	CAPT. Gugliotta, Guy Frank USN (USNA 1938)	13 August 1959 - 27 May 1960
15	CAPT. Privette Jr., William Garland USN	27 May 1960 - 4 May 1961
16	CAPT. Dobie Jr., Ernest William (Bill) USN (USNA 1940) :RADM	4 May 1961 - 2 April 1962
17	CAPT. Pressler, Louis Philip USN	2 April 1962 - 8 April 1963
18	CAPT. White, Norman Edward USN (USNA 1943)	8 April 1963 - 25 February 1964
19	CAPT. Gallagher Jr., Thomas James USN	25 February 1964 - 27 March 1965
20	CAPT. Tyler, Claude Leonidus USN	27 March 1965 - 28 March 1966
21	CAPT. Wolf, Robert Lowell USN (USNA 1944)	28 March 1966 - 3 March 1967
22	CAPT. Stankowski Sr., Robert John USN	3 March 1967 - 21 June 1968
23	CAPT. Hoke Sr., Charles Hearn USN	21 June 1968 - 1 October 1969
24	LCDR. Henry Jr., John Archie	1 October 1969 - 2 December 1969

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Mount Baker (AE-4)ex USS Kilauea (AE-4) (1941 - 1943)

USS Mount Baker (AE-4)
ex
USS Kilauea (AE-4) (1941 - 1943)