Statistics
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Displacement: 14,225 tons
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Length: 459 feet
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Breadth: 63 feet
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Draft: 26 feet 5 inches
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Complement: 281
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Speed: 15.3 knots
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Weapons: One-5" Four-3" Eight-20mm
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Class: Mauna Loa (Lassen)
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Type: C2 Cargo (mod.)
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Callsign: NAWH
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Voice Callsign: Elbow Uniform
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Chronological listing of events
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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!
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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.
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