About this Unit
**USS Denebola (AF-56)** was a Denebola-class stores ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1954. Originally built as the SS Hibbing Victory during World War II, she was later converted to serve as a combat stores ship, tasked with delivering refrigerated and dry provisions to Navy vessels at sea. Throughout her service, Denebola supported U.S. fleet operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, including numerous deployments with the Sixth Fleet and participation in NATO exercises during the Cold War. She was decommissioned in 1976 after more than two decades of dedicated logistical support to U.S. naval forces.
Historical Facts
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USS Denebola (AF-56) Namesake: The ship was named after Denebola, the second-brightest star in the constellation Leo, following the US Navy tradition of naming stores ships after bright stars.
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World War II Origin: Originally built as SS Hibbing Victory in 1944, she served as a cargo ship in the Pacific during World War II before her later conversion and commissioning as a naval stores ship.
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Conversion to Naval Service: The ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy and converted at the Maryland Drydock Company, Baltimore, Maryland, before being commissioned as USS Denebola (AF-56) on January 20, 1954.
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Role as a Store Ship: As a stores ship (designation AF), Denebola provided vital refrigerated and dry provisions to fleet units at sea, ensuring the operational readiness of U.S. Navy vessels.
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Suez Crisis Support: During the 1956 Suez Crisis, USS Denebola was deployed to support U.S. Sixth Fleet ships in the Mediterranean, playing a key logistics role during heightened tensions.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: The ship participated in the 1962 naval quarantine of Cuba, supplying U.S. Navy vessels enforcing the blockade during one of the Cold War's tensest moments.
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Medal-Worthy Service: Crew members were eligible for multiple campaign medals, including the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, reflecting the ship's involvement in major 20th-century naval events.
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Homeport and Operations: Based primarily out of Norfolk, Virginia, Denebola regularly deployed to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, supporting both the Atlantic and Sixth Fleets.
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Decommissioning and Fate: After more than two decades of service, Denebola was decommissioned on September 28, 1976, and was eventually sold for scrap in 1977, ending her long and varied career.
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Legacy: USS Denebola (AF-56) remains a testament to the crucial but often unsung role of logistics and support ships in maintaining global naval operations during the Cold War and beyond.
