USS Butte (AE-27)

• Commissioning and Namesake: USS Butte (AE-27) was commissioned on December 14, 1968. The ship was named after Butte, Montana, continuing the tradition of naming ammunition ships after U.S. cities. • Class and Purpose: Butte was a Kilauea-class ammunition ship, designed to carry, store, and transfer ammunition and explosives to combat ships at sea, ensuring fleet readiness during extended operations. • Vietnam War Service: Shortly after commissioning, Butte deployed to the Western Pacific and supported U.S. forces during the Vietnam War by providing vital ammunition resupply. • Rapid Response: In 1972, Butte set a record for the fastest ammunition transfer to an aircraft carrier, resupplying the USS Constellation (CV-64) in just over four hours during combat operations. • Cold War Operations: Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Butte participated in multiple NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments, reinforcing America's naval presence in Europe and the Middle East. • Lebanon Peacekeeping: In 1983, Butte supported U.S. Marine forces off the coast of Lebanon, providing ammunition and logistics during the multinational peacekeeping mission in Beirut. • Collision Incident: In 1981, Butte experienced a minor collision with the USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) during an underway replenishment but sustained only limited damage and continued its mission. • Operation Desert Storm: Butte played a support role during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, ensuring coalition ships remained supplied with ammunition during combat operations in the Persian Gulf. • Decommissioning and Transfer: The ship was decommissioned from the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1996, and transferred to the Military Sealift Command, where it continued to serve as USNS Butte (T-AE-27) until 1997. • Final Fate: After being struck from the Naval Vessel Register, Butte was designated for disposal. In July 2006, she was sunk as a target during a fleet training exercise, ending her long and eventful service.