About this Unit
USS Firedrake (AE-14) was a Mount Hood-class ammunition ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1944. During World War II, she played a vital role in the Pacific Theater, supplying ammunition to combat ships engaged in major operations such as the Philippines and Okinawa campaigns. After the war, Firedrake saw multiple recommissionings, supporting fleet operations during the Korean War and providing crucial logistics support throughout the Vietnam War. She was decommissioned in 1971, having earned multiple battle stars for her service across three major conflicts.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Firedrake (AE-14) was named after the mythical "firedrake," a dragon or fire-breathing creature, reflecting the ship’s mission of carrying explosive ordnance.
• Class & Type: She was a Mount Hood-class ammunition ship, one of a series built during World War II to transport and supply ammunition to the fleet at sea.
• Launch & Commission: Firedrake was launched on 13 February 1944 by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company and commissioned on 27 August 1944.
• World War II Service: The ship saw action in the Pacific Theater during WWII, supplying ammunition to combat ships during key operations such as the battles for the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
• Korean War Role: Recommissioned for the Korean War, Firedrake provided vital logistic support to United Nations naval forces, rearming ships at sea to sustain combat operations.
• Vietnam War Deployments: USS Firedrake served multiple tours off the coast of Vietnam, supporting operations such as "Rolling Thunder" by replenishing aircraft carriers and surface combatants with bombs and other munitions.
• Replenishment at Sea: The ship was a pioneer in underway replenishment (UNREP), refining techniques for transferring explosives between ships in heavy seas—a dangerous but essential mission.
• Crew Safety Innovations: Due to the hazardous nature of her cargo, Firedrake’s crew developed stringent safety protocols and trained extensively for fire and explosion emergencies.
• Decommissioning: After decades of service and numerous awards, the ship was decommissioned on 31 August 1971 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1976.
• Legacy: USS Firedrake earned 8 battle stars for World War II service, 2 for the Korean War, and 9 campaign stars for Vietnam, marking her as one of the most decorated ammunition ships in U.S. Navy history.
