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USNS Kilauea (T-AE 26)

First ship in the Navy named after the volcano on the Island of Hawaii, the USNS KILAUEA was the lead ship of the KILAUEA - class of Ammunition Ships and the first ship in her class transferred to the Military Sealift Command. Stricken from the Navy list on September 15, 2008, the KILAUEA was laid up at Pearl Harbor for the following years. A live-fire exercise, part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012, sank the KILAUEA in waters 15,480 feet deep, 63 miles off the coast of Kauai at 9:32 a.m. June 22, 2012.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS KILAUEA. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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Accidents aboard USS/USNS KILAUEA:

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USS/USNS KILAUEA History:

USS KILAUEA was laid down on March 10, 1966, by the Quincy Division of General Dynamics Corporation at Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on August 9, 1967, sponsored by Mrs. Michael J. Kirwan, wife of Representative Michael J. Kirwan of Ohio, and was commissioned at Boston Naval Shipyard on August 10, 1968. Captain William L. McGonagle assumed command. McGonagle had previously commanded USS LIBERTY (AGTR 5) during the attack on that ship in the eastern Mediterranean on June 8, 1967, and subsequently received the Medal of Honor.

Following commissioning, KILAUEA conducted fitting-out, training and qualification work before transferring to the Pacific Fleet. On October 11, 1969, she departed Norfolk, Virginia, for the Pacific. During the voyage, she conducted her first underway replenishment on October 16 with USS YANCEY (LKA 93). She visited Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from October 16 to October 18, then proceeded through the Caribbean to the Panama Canal. After transiting the canal, she called at Naval Station Rodman, Panama, from October 18 to October 23. Continuing northward along the Pacific coast, she visited Acapulco, Mexico, from October 29 to November 2 before arriving at Concord, California, on November 8. Concord Naval Weapons Station became one of the principal ammunition-loading points used by KILAUEA during her Pacific service. While operating in southern California waters, she conducted her first recorded helicopter flight operations on December 16. On December 17, she employed the Fast Automated Shuttle Transfer system during an ammunition transfer to USS BROOKE (DEG 1).

During 1970, KILAUEA entered the deployment cycle of the Pacific Fleet and Seventh Fleet and began supporting U.S. naval operations associated with the Vietnam War. Her role was to carry ammunition from established logistics facilities to fleet units operating at sea and to transfer the ordnance by connected replenishment or helicopter. During the Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VII campaign, KILAUEA received campaign credit for operations from August 7 to August 23, 1970; September 1 to September 25; October 1 to October 2; October 12 to October 24; November 2 to November 11; November 30 to December 11; and January 5 to January 26, 1971. During this period, she operated with other units of the Seventh Fleet and participated in replenishment activity supporting ships operating off Southeast Asia. Contemporary records also place her with USS WICHITA (AOR 1) during replenishment training.

On December 3, 1970, while KILAUEA was rearming USS OKLAHOMA CITY (CLG 5), a sailor from the cruiser fell overboard from its forward rearming station. Both ships carried out an emergency breakaway, and the sailor was recovered approximately twelve minutes later. KILAUEA subsequently continued replenishment operations associated with Seventh Fleet activity off Vietnam.

Her Vietnam-related service continued throughout 1971. KILAUEA received campaign credit under Consolidation I for September 3-11, September 22-30, October 19-26 and November 5-24, 1971. Under Consolidation II she received additional campaign credit for December 1-8 and December 25, 1971-January 3, 1972, followed by January 12-21, January 28-February 22 and March 5-29, 1972. During these periods, American ground forces in South Vietnam were being reduced while U.S. naval and air forces remained heavily engaged in the conflict.

The North Vietnamese Easter Offensive, which began in March 1972, was followed by an expansion of American naval and air operations. KILAUEA continued ammunition-support operations for Seventh Fleet units during this period. Her Vietnam Ceasefire campaign periods were March 30-April 15, April 21-May 6, May 13-23 and May 30-June 12, 1972. Her Vietnam service ultimately resulted in four Vietnam Service Medal campaign stars.

Throughout these deployments, KILAUEA carried ammunition between logistics facilities and operating areas and conducted both alongside and vertical replenishments. Following the reduction and eventual conclusion of direct American combat operations in Vietnam, KILAUEA remained assigned to Pacific Fleet logistics duties and continued cycles of maintenance, training and western Pacific deployment.

KILAUEA was again operating with Seventh Fleet units during 1975. In November, she supported USS OKLAHOMA CITY during operations and exercises in Philippine waters, supplying the cruiser on November 13 and again on November 25 in connection with training that included Multiplex 1-76 and Missilex 2-76. Subic Bay, Philippines, remained one of the principal U.S. naval logistics facilities used during her western Pacific deployments.

During the mid-1970s, KILAUEA underwent a major overhaul at the facilities of Willamette Iron and Steel Company at Richmond, California. On July 2, 1976, a fire broke out in her main engine room while the ship was undergoing overhaul. The fire damaged electrical wiring, valves and other engine-room equipment, and reported damage exceeded $100,000. Repairs and overhaul work continued before the ship returned to fleet operations. On November 17, 1977, KILAUEA conducted vertical replenishment operations with USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64).

KILAUEA began another western Pacific deployment on March 7, 1978. The deployment continued until October 6 and included operations throughout western Pacific waters. In April, Typhoon Olive affected the central Philippines while KILAUEA was operating in the region. On April 21, the ammunition ship entered Manila Bay in poor visibility and heavy weather. A lookout sighted two Filipino fishermen, Rodante Ipil and Honorio Vera, clinging to debris approximately two miles from Caballo Island. Their fishing boat, JESS JANE, had capsized after heavy seas damaged its outriggers. Commander Francis M. Verona, KILAUEA's commanding officer, maneuvered the ship for the rescue. The two men were brought aboard, provided with food, hot drinks and clothing, and subsequently landed at Pier 15 in Manila's South Harbor, where they were transferred to the Philippine Coast Guard.

Later in the same deployment, KILAUEA was involved in a collision in Japanese waters. On June 25, 1978, she was proceeding toward Iwakuni, Japan, when dense fog prevented her from immediately entering the port and caused her to stop at an anchorage approximately fifty miles to the south. Her embarked helicopters transferred cargo ashore to Iwakuni, after which the ship continued through Japanese waters. During the night of June 25-26, she exited the Inland Sea through the Bungo Strait. The Japanese ore/oil carrier JAPAN WISTERIA was approaching on a reciprocal course while proceeding from Nagoya toward Kure. At approximately 2118 the two vessels developed a meeting situation. KILAUEA altered course to port while JAPAN WISTERIA maneuvered to starboard. At approximately 2121 the ships collided, with KILAUEA's starboard quarter striking the merchant vessel's port side. Both ships sustained damage, but no casualties were reported and both remained seaworthy.

KILAUEA subsequently underwent repairs at Leyte Pier, Subic Bay, from July 30 to August 14, 1978. The documented repair cost for KILAUEA was $24,170.31. JAPAN WISTERIA was repaired in Japan, and the United States later compensated the vessel's owner in connection with the collision. KILAUEA completed the deployment and returned on October 6.

In 1979, KILAUEA continued Pacific Fleet training and logistics operations. On September 24, she participated in Fleet Exercise 2-79, also known as Kernel Potlatch II, a combined United States-Canadian exercise in the northeastern Pacific. Later that year, the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4 and the resulting Iranian hostage crisis brought an increased American naval presence to the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. KILAUEA departed on another western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment on November 13, 1979. The deployment continued until June 9, 1980.

While crossing the South China Sea during that deployment, KILAUEA became involved in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees. At approximately 1715 on January 31, 1980, a lookout sighted a small vessel carrying 67 refugees. The boat had departed Vietnam about twenty days earlier, but its engine had failed and the craft had drifted to a position almost 200 miles from land. Its occupants had improvised a large green sail bearing the letters "SOS". KILAUEA lowered her motor whaleboat, took the disabled craft under tow and brought it alongside the ship. The refugees were taken aboard and KILAUEA proceeded toward Singapore, where they were landed the following afternoon.

KILAUEA subsequently operated in the Indian Ocean as part of the logistics force supporting the increased U.S. naval presence associated with the Iranian hostage crisis. Among the ships operating in the region that she supported were USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), USS CORAL SEA (CV 43) and USS OKINAWA (LPH 3). Her ammunition replenishment capability supported carrier, amphibious and escort forces maintained for prolonged periods in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

During the return voyage in June 1980, KILAUEA called at Naval Magazine Lualualei, Hawaii. On June 2, she moored at Wharf W-1 and embarked male dependents of crew members for the final passage toward California. On June 3, she shifted to Fuel Pier H-2 to take on fuel. Before continuing eastward, she received a Coast Guard request for assistance in locating the missing sailing boat HIGH SPIRIT, which had departed Long Beach, California, and had last been reported approximately 300 miles north of Oahu. On June 4, one of KILAUEA's embarked Sea Knight helicopters located the vessel. KILAUEA approached, and a boarding party led by the ship's executive officer crossed to HIGH SPIRIT in the motor whaleboat.

The party spent approximately eight hours attempting to repair the sailboat's engine, but worsening conditions eventually forced the effort to be abandoned. One of HIGH SPIRIT's two occupants transferred to KILAUEA, while the other elected to remain aboard the sailing vessel. KILAUEA supplied him with food, batteries, clothing, sailing instructions and navigational information before departing the area. A Coast Guard cutter later located HIGH SPIRIT and escorted the vessel toward Hawaii. KILAUEA completed the deployment on June 9, 1980.

A major administrative change followed later that year. On October 1, 1980, KILAUEA was decommissioned from commissioned U.S. Navy service at Pier 4, Berth E, Naval Supply Center Oakland, California. Commander Alexander G. Balian relinquished command and Captain Richard B. Hosey of the Military Sealift Command assumed responsibility for the ship. KILAUEA was simultaneously placed in service with the Military Sealift Command as USNS KILAUEA (T-AE 26). Civilian mariners replaced most of the Navy crew, while Navy personnel remained aboard for functions requiring military personnel. Her ammunition-transport and fleet-replenishment mission continued.

In 1981, Braswell Shipyards at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, received a $19.1 million contract for extensive modifications and overhaul of USNS KILAUEA. After completion of this work, KILAUEA returned to service with the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force and resumed ammunition-support operations.

During the 1980s, KILAUEA continued to operate with Pacific and Indian Ocean naval forces. By the second half of the decade, she was regularly supporting Seventh Fleet carrier and surface forces operating from the western Pacific into the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. On December 16, 1987, KILAUEA was operating in the Arabian Sea in support of forces associated with USS MIDWAY (CV 41). Other logistics ships in the operating area included USNS MISPILLION (T-AO 105) and USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS 4), while USS KNOX (FF 1052) was among the accompanying surface combatants. On December 25, 1987, KILAUEA was photographed anchored off Oman with an embarked CH-46 Sea Knight operating overhead.

On June 9, 1988, KILAUEA was transiting the South China Sea in company with USS DUBUQUE (LPD 8) when the ships encountered a boat carrying Vietnamese refugees. DUBUQUE took the lead in investigating the refugee craft while KILAUEA remained approximately two miles away. The handling of the incident later became the subject of official investigation and legal proceedings. Captain Bruce Butterfield, KILAUEA's master, subsequently testified concerning communications between the two ships and the decisions made during the encounter. KILAUEA continued toward her assigned logistics duties after the incident.

Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, and the United States began deploying forces to Southwest Asia under Operation Desert Shield. KILAUEA departed for the Persian Gulf region on August 23 as part of the logistics effort supporting the expanding naval force. She carried and distributed ammunition to U.S. naval formations operating in the region. When coalition combat operations began in January 1991 under Operation Desert Storm, KILAUEA continued supporting carrier and surface forces operating in and around the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. During the Desert Shield and Desert Storm period, she supplied ammunition to multiple battle groups rather than remaining permanently attached to a single formation. Following the conflict, KILAUEA was named Seventh Fleet's 1991 Logistics Ship of the Year.

KILAUEA was at Subic Bay when Mount Pinatubo erupted in June 1991. The eruption caused extensive damage across central Luzon and seriously affected both Clark Air Base and Naval Base Subic Bay. KILAUEA assisted Military Sealift Command personnel and families by providing food, water and communications support. She later participated in logistics associated with the American withdrawal from Subic Bay as the United States ended its permanent naval basing there.

KILAUEA continued western Pacific operations in 1992. In May, while operating in the South Pacific, Petty Officer Second Class Kenneth C. Normand was swept overboard when the ship rolled heavily during the night. Another crewman witnessed the fall and raised the alarm. KILAUEA turned back and launched a helicopter to search for him. Normand was located and recovered by boat. Although he had swallowed seawater, he survived without serious injury.

Later in 1992, KILAUEA supported naval forces associated with Operation Southern Watch, which enforced restrictions on Iraqi military aircraft south of the 32nd parallel. On September 6, 1992, an HH-46D Sea Knight from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 5 assigned to KILAUEA operated aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) while the carrier was participating in Southern Watch.

During the remainder of the 1990s, KILAUEA continued Seventh Fleet and Indian Ocean logistics operations. By 1997, she was assigned to Task Group 73.5, the Seventh Fleet organization responsible for fleet logistics support. On March 27-28, 1998, she was operating in the Persian Gulf during another period of heightened U.S. military activity connected with tensions with Iraq. KILAUEA operated with USNS SPICA (T-AFS 9), and the two logistics ships conducted vertical-replenishment operations for naval units in the region.

In 1999, KILAUEA became involved in the international response to violence in East Timor following the August 30 independence referendum. She had been participating in Exercise Crocodile '99 when she was diverted to support the Australian-led International Force East Timor, or Interfet. Beginning on September 20, KILAUEA supported the operation together with USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53), which was also among the initial U.S. naval units assigned to the mission.

KILAUEA's helicopter facilities and embarked CH-46 Sea Knights allowed her to support the movement of personnel and cargo between ships, Darwin, Australia, and operating areas associated with East Timor. Darwin served as the principal staging location for much of the international force. KILAUEA continued supporting Interfet into early October 1999 as the United States contributed naval, airlift, communications and logistics assistance to the multinational operation.

KILAUEA remained operational into the early 2000s. On August 9, 2000, USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) transferred ammunition to KILAUEA during a large ordnance offload. The evolution included connected replenishment as well as 163 vertical-replenishment lifts. By January 2003, KILAUEA was documented at Naval Station San Diego and remained available for Pacific Fleet support. On March 24, 2003, she came alongside USS NIMITZ in the Pacific Ocean for replenishment while the carrier and Carrier Air Wing 11 were deployed. Ammunition was transferred between the two ships both alongside and by helicopter.

By Fiscal Year 2005, KILAUEA was assigned to reduced operating status. Navy budget documents provided for an increase in her readiness from Reduced Operating Status 45 to Reduced Operating Status 15, shortening the period required to return the ship to full operating status. KILAUEA was photographed at Alameda, California, on July 18, 2006, while in reduced operating status. On July 28, 2007, she was photographed leaving San Francisco Bay and approaching the Golden Gate Bridge while outbound to sea.

In March 2008, KILAUEA was moved from her berth in the San Francisco Bay area. Commercial tugs shifted her to an anchorage near Treasure Island, where USNS NAVAJO (T-ATF 169) took her in tow. The tow proceeded beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and southward toward Point Hueneme before KILAUEA was eventually taken to Hawaii. On September 15, 2008, USNS KILAUEA was formally placed out of service and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. She was subsequently laid up at the Naval Sea Systems Command Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Pearl Harbor pending final disposal. The action concluded approximately forty years of active Navy and Military Sealift Command service.

KILAUEA remained at Pearl Harbor until 2012, when the Navy selected the former ammunition ship for use as a target during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2012. Rimpac 2012 involved military forces from 22 nations operating around the Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific Missile Range Facility. On July 18, USNS SALVOR (T-ARS 52) departed Pearl Harbor with the former KILAUEA in tow and took her to the designated exercise area northwest of Kauai.

At 0932 on July 22, 2012, the former KILAUEA was attacked during the Rimpac sinking exercise by the Australian Collins-class submarine HMAS FARNCOMB (SSG 74), commanded by Commander Glen Miles. FARNCOMB fired a Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo at the unmanned target. The weapon struck below the bridge and the explosion broke KILAUEA into two major sections. The former ammunition ship sank in approximately forty minutes in water about 15,480 feet deep, approximately 63 miles northwest of Kauai.

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USNS KILAUEA SinkEx:

The video below shows the KILAUEA being sunk as a target during exercise RIMPAC 2012 off the Hawaiian Islands on June 22, 2012.

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USNS KILAUEA Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by me and shows the KILAUEA at Alameda, Calif., on July 18, 2006. At the time, she was already in reduced operating status (ROS90), able to be fully activated within 90 days.

The photo below was taken by me and shows the KILAUEA at Alameda, Calif., on March 11, 2008. Although the Navy's Naval Vessel Register indicates the KILAUEA as being (deactivated and?) stricken in September 2008, the ship does not fly the national ensign on this photo. Most likely, the KILAUEA was already deactivated when the photo below was taken (in March 2008).

Stern view of the KILAUEA at Pearl Harbor, Hi., while laid-up between an LSD and an AFS. The photo was taken by me on March 20, 2010.

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