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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Mount Katmai (AE-16)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - India - Charlie
NUIC
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Gilmour (P)apa - 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 - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Korea Service Medal (9) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Quemoy-Matsu, Vietnam)- Vietnam Service Medal (12)
Fourth Row - United Nations Korea Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)


Mount Hood Class Ammunition Ship:
  • Laid down, 11 November 1944 as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1704) at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C.
  • Launched, 6 January 1945
  • Commissioned USS Mount Katmai (AE-16), 21 July 1945 at Jacksonville, FL., CDR Carl H. Christensen, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Mount Katmai was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • During the Korean War USS Mount Katmai participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    17 August to 12 September 1950
    18 September to 27 October 1950
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    9 to 15 July 1951
    29 July to 10 August 1951
    8 to 18 September 1951
    2 to 10 and 19 to 26 October 1951
    30 October to 3 Nov 1951
    Communist China Aggression
    6 November 1950 to 19 January 1951
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    12 to 25 May 1952
    30 May to 2 June 1952
    17 to 30 June 1952
    11-16 July 1952
    24 July to 6 August 1952
    20 August to 3 September 1952
    26 September to 9 October 1952
    23 October to 6 November 1952
    18 to 30 November 1952
    Inchon Landing
    13 to 17 September 1950
    Third Korean Winter
    1 to 12 and 16 to 17 December 1952
    1 to 9 January 1953
    First UN Counter Offensive
    29 January to 22 March 1951
    19 to 21 April 1951
    Korea, Summer-Fall 1953
    3 to 27 July 1953
    Communist China Spring Offensive
    22 to 23 April 1951
    1 to 4 May 1951
    13 to 20 May 1951
    6 to 14 June 1951
    4 to 8 July 1951
     

  • During the Vietnam War USS Mount Katmai participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    21 May to 3 June 1965
    Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    27 February to 11 March 1969
    Vietnam Defense
    6 July to 11 and 19 to 27 July 1965
    20 to 29 August 1965
    9 to 19 September 1965
    29 September to 9 October 1965
    15 to 27 October 1965
    3 to 19 November 1965
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    12 to 27 December 1969
    4 to 21 January 1970
    6 to 22 February 1970
    2 to March 1970
    29 March to 10 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    6 to 20 July 1966
    10 to 23 August 1966
    2 to 18 and 21 to 22 September 1966
    2 to 17 October 1966
    27 October to 11 november 1966
    1 to 22 December 1966
    30 December 1966 to 6 January 1967
    Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    7 May to 1 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    13 to 30 September 1967
    13 to 24 October 1967
    11 to 29 November 1967
    12 to 29 December 1967
    7 to 9 and 17 to 29 January 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    16 February to 14 March 1971
    20 to 29 March 1971
    10 to 24 April 1971
    3 to 12 May 1971
    20 May to 4-June 1971
    13 to 20 June 1971
    Tet Counteroffensive - Phase II
    30 to 31 January 1968
    8 to 21 February 1968
    29 February to 6 March 1968
    Consolidation I
    9 to 16 and 26 to 27 July 1971
    31 July to 16 August 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    3 to 12 October 1968
    24 October to 1 November 1968
    Vietnam Ceasefire
    2 to 12 May 1972
    23 May to 6 June 1972
    19 June to 7 July 1972
    18 to 29 July 1972
    20 to 31 August 1972
    16 to 25 September 1972
    13 to 27 January 1973
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 and 15 to 20 November 1968
    30 November to 12 December 1968
    19 to 30 December 1968
    8 to 13 and 24 to 29 January 1969
    3 to 13 February 1969
     

  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 14 August 1973
  • USS Mount Katmai earned nine battle stars for Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with twelve campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Turned over to Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Benecia, CA.
  • Title transfer, 5 April 1974, to the Maritime Administration (MARAD)
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD for scrapping, 5 April 1974, along with Vesuvius (AE-15) to Nicolai Joffe Corp. Beverly Hills, CA. (PD-X-974) for $243,310. Removed from the Reserve Fleet, May 1974 to NASSCO to Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 15,295 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 28' 3"
    Speed 16.4 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 23
    Enlisted 244
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Armament
    one single5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 7,275 DWT
    non-refrigerated 400,000 Cu. ft.
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 10,925 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared turbine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gear
    three turbo-drive Ship's Service Generators, 300Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    single propeller, 6,000shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    Mount Katmai
    09051638
    577k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) at anchor, circa 1946-47, possibly in Suisun Bay near Port Chicago Ammunition Depot since she was at Mare Island from 29 June 1946 to 10 July 1946 for repairs.
    U.S. Navy photo from the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum
    Darryl Baker
    Mount Katmai 63k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 26 May 1947. Broadside view, starboard side.
    Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo # NY8-811 now in the collections of the US National Archives Seattle Branch
    Tracy White
    Mount Katmai 64k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 26 May 1947. Bow view approximately °45 off center.
    Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo # NY8-812 now in the collections of the US National Archives Seattle Branch
    Tracy White
    Mount Katmai 61k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 26 May 1947. Stern view from After Center Line.
    Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo # NY8-813 now in the collections of the US National Archives Seattle Branch
    Tracy White
    Mount Katmai 49k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 26 May 1947. Head on view.
    Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo # NY8-814 now in the collections of the US National Archives Seattle Branch
    Tracy White
    Mount Katmai 48k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 26 May 1947. View from directly astern.
    Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo # NY8-815 now in the collections of the US National Archives Seattle Branch
    Tracy White
    Mount Katmai 135k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) transferring bombs during underway replenishment with USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) off Korea, 29 November 1950. Note: Crewmen standing in the carrier's forward hangar bay, and Grumman F9F-2 "Panther" fighters and LeTourneau crane parked on her flight deck. Crewmen on Mount Katmai are wearing cold weather clothing. A few days after this photo was taken, Philippine Sea commenced a period of close-support operations in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir.
    US Navy National Archives photo # 80-G-439879, a US Navy photo now in the collection of the US National Archives
    US Naval Historical Center
    Mount Katmai 157k US Navy ships take on supplies while moored in Sasebo harbor, circa December 1950. Photographed from USS Princeton (CV 37), which arrived in the area on her first Korean War deployment in early December. Among the ships in the background are USS Mount Katmai (AE 16), in left center, and USS Comstock (LSD 19), at right. Planes on Princeton's deck are AD "Skyraiders".
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-423620, a US Navy photo now in the collection of the US National Archives
    US Naval Historical Center
    Mount Katmai 316k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) under way, circa 1951, location unknown.
    File AE16 112x2-12-51, s US Navy photo courtesy Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum.
    Darryl Baker
    Mount Katmai 113k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) off Point Loma as she enters San Diego Bay, date unknown.
    US Navy photo
    .
    Mount Katmai 46k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway, circa 1955, location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1956-57".
    Robert Hurst
    Mount Katmai 93k Aerial view of USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Tommy Trampp
    Mount Katmai 50k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) moored to a buoy, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Tommy Trampp
    Mount Katmai 48k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) probably entering Pearl Harbor, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Mount Katmai 23k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy.
    Ron Reeves
    Mount Katmai 90k Photos of USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) about to collide with USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) and the resulting damage to the carriers' elevator. There were no personnel casualties. The collision occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin, 10 October 1967. Ron Reeves
    Mount Katmai 83k
    Mount Katmai 108k
    Mount Katmai 112k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Mount Katmai 226k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Mike Smolinski
    Mount Katmai 230k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge as she enters San Francisco Bay, 2 July 1970.
    Photo by Don Maskell & C0
    Darrell E. Baty
    Mount Katmai 185k USS Mount Katmai (AE-16) with tug alongside as she prepares to dock at the Naval Weapons Station Concord, Port Chicago, CA., 2 July 1970. Darrell E. Baty

    USS Mount Katmai Additional Ships Patches and Decals
    Mount Katmai
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Mount Katmai
    Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler
    Mount Katmai
    Decal
    Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler
    Mount Katmai
    Decal
    Contributed by Wolfgang Hechler


    For more photos and information about USS Mount Katmai, see;
  • MARAD Vessel History Database
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • USS Mount Katmai undergoing Inclining Experiments at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 2 March 1949
  • AE/AOE Sailors Association
  • Decommissioning Program

  • Commanding Officers
    01LT. Guyon, Elmer Edward, USNR (Ferry Command Crew # 1)12 February 1945 - 14 February 1945
     Decommissioned14 February 1945 - 21 July 1945
    02CDR. Christensen, Carl Henrik, USNR21 July 1945 - 10 April 1946
    03CAPT. Dolecek, Edward Elwin, USN 10 April 1946 - 1947
    04CAPT. Goyette, Emmanuel Thomas, USN (USNA 1927)1947 - January 1948
    05CDR. Spring, Arthur Finn USN (USNA 1930) :RADMJanuary 1948 - February 1949
    06CAPT. Duborg, Francis Rahr USN (USNA 1929) :RADMFebruary 1949 - November 1949
    07CAPT. Carter, Albert Samuel, USN (USNA 1927)November 1949 - July 1950
    08CAPT. Harris, Morgan Hamilton, USNJuly 1950 - March 1953
    09CAPT. Gunn, Frederick Arthur, USN (USNA 1934) :RADMMarch 1953 - 10 July 1954
    10CAPT. Lord III, Edwin Elmer, USN (USNA 1933)10 July 1954 - 21 October 1956
    11CAPT. Day, Edward Maynard, USN (USNA 1931)21 October 1956 - 21 December 1956
    12CAPT. Freedman Jr., Albert Stanley (Sid), USN (USNA 1937)21 December 1956 - 10 January 1958
    13CAPT. Beyer Jr., Aaron Frederick, USN (USNA 1933)10 November1957 - 10 March 1959
    14CAPT. Lundgren, Oscar Berndherd, USN USNA 194010 March 1959 - 17 March 1960
    15CAPT. Desmond Jr., Ralph Paul, USN (USNA 1940)17 January 1960 - 4 March 1961
    16CDR. Iarrobino, Charles Anthony, USN4 March 1961 - 4 March 1962
    17CAPT. Grayson, Jack Lee, USN :RADM4 March 1962 - 4 March 1963
    18CAPT. Schley, John Boone, USN :RADM4 March 1963 - 8 April 1964
    19CAPT. Engen, Donald Davenport, USN :VADM8 April 1964 - 31 August 1965
    20CAPT. Naylor, Jesse Abner, USN (USNA 1943)31 August 1965 - 1 December 1966
    21CAPT. Herman, John Stuart (Jack), USN1 December 1966 - 30 October 1967
    22CAPT. Tarbell, Curtis Loyal, USN30 October 1967 - 2 March 1969
    23CAPT. Camp, Herbert Ernest, USN (USNA 1946)2 March 1969 - 8 August 1970
    24CAPT. Ulbricht, Frederick William, USN8 August 1970 - 7 April 1972
    25CDR. Cooke, Vincent Edward, USN7 April 1972 - June 1973
    26LCDR. Vaughan, Wendell Dean, USNJune 1973 - 14 August 1973
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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    Last Updated 16 February 2024