USS Mauna Loa (AE-8) Deck Log

Statistics

Displacement: 14,225 tons

Length: 459 feet

Breadth: 63 feet

Draft: 26 feet 5 inches

Complement: 281

Speed: 15.3 knots

Weapons: One-5" Four-3" Eight-20mm

Class: Mauna Loa (Lassen)

Type: C2 Cargo (mod.)

Callsign: NAWH

Voice Callsign: Elbow Uniform

Chronological listing of events

1916

The 1st Mauna Loa, a motor yacht, was built by George Lawley & Sons, Neponset, Massachusetts

10 MAY 17

The 1st Mauna Loa acquired by the Navy under free-lease contract from A. C. James

11 MAY 17

The 1st Mauna Loa commissioned. Mauna Loa was called in for special duty during World War I, operating

off the 1st Naval District until the Armistice.

5 DEC ??

Decommissioned and was returned to her owner the same day.

10 DEC 42

Keel for 2nd Mauna Loa was laid by Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, FL

14 APR 43

The 2nd Mauna Loa was launched; Sponsored by Mrs. Robert E. Friend

27 OCT 43

The 2nd Mauna Loa was commissioned, Commander George D. Martin in command

19 DEC 43

After shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay, Mauna Loa loaded on 5,600 tons of ammunition at Norfolk and

departed Hampton Roads, Virginia with a stopover at San Francisco for 2 days,.

17 JAN 44

Arrived Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

01 FEB 44

Assigned to the service force, she continued on to the Marshalls escorted by Manlove (DE-36), reaching

Majuro 7 days later to begin rearming the fleet.

01 FEB 44

Mauna Loa began her first mission into enemy waters, her destination: the Marshall Islands.

09 FEB 44

A near disaster occurred while transferring ammunition to the cruiser Indianapolis and battleship

Pennsylvania. With the men on Mauna Loa moving the powder containers over faster than they could be

removed to the magazines of the battleship, the cans gradually piled up to more than a hundred on

Pennsylvania's forward deck. At 1635 a flash of flame leaped out across her deck, accompanied by a dull

boom-one of the cans had exploded!

Grains of burning powder were hurled about, many of them streaking down Mauna Loa's open hold. Without

a moment's hesitation, Boatswain F. B. Wilson seized a hose and turned it on the burning can. This stream of

water checked the fire until Pennsylvania's men could get the can over the side before it ignited the others.

Two of Pennsylvania's men suffered broken legs and the man handling the powder can was blinded.

Courageous performance of their duties under such hazardous conditions had become mere routine to the

officers and men of the ammunition ship.

02 MAR 44

Mauna Loa sailed for the west coast, via Pearl Harbor.

21 MAR 44

Arrived San Francisco to replenish her cargo of ammunition.

10 APR 44

She got underway again for the South Pacific, her destination being the New Hebrides.

28 APR 44

She reached Espiritu Santo for a month of operations, then proceeded to Eniwetok, Marshalls.

13 JUN 44

Supported the Marianas operation through 23 July.

08 SEP 44

After a return trip to San Francisco, Mauna Loa joined company with Shasta (AE-6). She then began a

24-hour-a-day rearming of the 3rd fleet, while swept mines exploded all around the anchorage.

19 SEP 44

An unidentified plane strafed her during the night while Portland (CA-33) was alongside. Night operations

were halted.

30 NOV 44

Arrived Ulithi, the Carolines. Mauna Loa remained there until the beginning of the Okinawa campaign.

1944

During the late winter of 1944, Mauna Loa made preparations for the new experiment of rearming the fleet at

sea.

13 MAR 45

Put to sea to rendezvous with Task Force 58 for rearming.

22 MAR 45

Mauna Loa entered upon what would soon become a familiar routine; Replenishment at sea. For 5 successful

months, Mauna Loa replenished some 99 ships underway.

14 AUG 45

The Japanese capitulation found her at San Pedro, Philippines.

04 OCT 45

Mauna Loa departed San Pedro for the west coast.

21 OCT 45

Arrived Tiburon, California.

12 NOV 45

She moved to Bremerton, Washington.

15 MAY 46

She then entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego.

02 JUN 47

Decommissioned at San Diego, CA.

31 JAN 55

Recommissioned at San Diego, Captain Elgin B. Hurlbert in command.

MAR 55

Departed San Diego for the east coast reporting to the U.S. Atlantic 2nd Fleet for duty.

08 SEP 55

After docking at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for alterations, she began refresher training out of Newport, Rhode

Island, then served out of Earle, New Jersey, through the end of the year.

05 JAN 56

Mauna Loa departed Earle for Europe. The ammunition ship operated with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.

28 MAY 56

Steamed from Tangiers for home.

13 JUN 57

She reached Yorktown, Virginia, for supply duty along the east coast from Gravesend Bay to Norfolk into

September 1957.

27 SEP 57

Departed Earle for another tour in the Mediterranean.

17 NOV 57

Returned to Norfolk for 2nd Fleet operations.

01 FEB 58

Mauna Loa made a third visit to the Mediterranean through 27 June 1958.

07 JUL 58

Returned to New York.

15 SEP 58

Shifted to Beaumont, Texas, for inactivation.

16 DEC 58

Decommissioned; entering the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange, Texas.

12 NOV 60

Temporarily joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia.

27 NOV 61

Recommissioned, Captain Vernon P. O'Neil in command.

08 OCT 61

Sailed from Philadelphia for home port, Bayonne, New Jersey.

15 JAN 62

Got underway from Norfolk for shakedown off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to late February.

07 MAY 63

LCDR Thomas J. Herbert relieved LCDR Harry B. Wagner as Executive Officer.

DEC 63

Mauna Loa commenced her biennial overhaul during which a Helo platform was completed which made

Mauna Loa directly involved in a revolutionary concept of ammunition transfer; Vertical Replenishment.

1964

During the fiscal year 1964, operating in the Atlantic, Mauna Loa won the Battle Efficiency Pennant for

Atlantic Fleet ammunition ships.

1965

For the second straight year, was awarded the Battle Efficiency Pennant. For the next few years Mauna Loa

continued a pattern of upkeep and supply service along the east coast out of Norfolk and Earle, interspersed

with training cruises and exercises in the Caribbean.

JAN 67

Mauna Loa started 1967 in Hoboken, New Jersey undergoing shipyard repair and upkeep, ready for sea in

April.

09 OCT 67

After a stop in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, departed Bayonne for a new and vital mission, supply operations off

South Vietnam.

16 OCT 67

Transited the Panama Canal on her way to the Pacific, and soon thereafter arrived off the troubled Southeast

Asian area to begin service to the fleet fighting to repel Communist aggression. Mauna Loa operated almost

continually for five months "on-the-line" in the Gulf of Tonkin, replenishing 142 ships with over 14,000 tons

of ammunition to units of the U.S. 7th Fleet.

MAY 68

Returning to Bayonne and the Atlantic Fleet, she went through a series of inspections and trials in preparation

for once again becoming an active member of the 6th Fleet.

06 JAN 69

Mauna Loa cast off for a tour in the Mediterranean. During this seven month deployment Mauna Loa was

privileged to entertain a visit from Admiral Thomas, H. Moorer, Chief of Naval Operations, along with

Admiral Rivero, CINCSOUTH and Admiral Richardson, COMSIXTHFLT.

JUL 69

Returned to her homeport; Bayonne, New Jersey.

OCT 69

After a leave and upkeep period, Mauna Loa sailed for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training.

NOV 69

Returned to Bayonne, New Jersey.

FEB 70

Departed Bayonne to rejoin the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.

SEP 70

Completed deployment and returned stateside to begin preparations for her impending decommissioning.

DEC 70

Moved from Bayonne to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to complete inactivation.

26 FEB 71

Mauna Loa hauled down her commission pennant at the U. S. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

and joined the reserve fleet for the third and final time.

01 OCT 76

Mauna Loa was sold for scrap.