About this Unit
USS Kilauea (AE-26) was the lead ship of the Kilauea-class ammunition ships in the United States Navy, commissioned on August 10, 1968. Designed to transport and transfer ammunition and explosives to combat ships at sea, she played a vital logistical role during the Vietnam War and later in the Gulf War. Throughout her service, USS Kilauea supported various fleet operations, ensuring combat readiness for U.S. naval forces worldwide. The ship was decommissioned on October 18, 1996, after nearly three decades of distinguished service.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Kilauea (AE-26) was named after Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, located in Hawaii. This naming follows a tradition of naming ammunition ships after volcanoes and other explosive phenomena.
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Class Leader: Kilauea was the lead ship of the Kilauea-class ammunition ships, designed to replace older World War II-era ships and provide improved logistics support to the fleet.
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Commissioning: The ship was launched on August 9, 1967, by General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division in Massachusetts and was commissioned on August 10, 1968.
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Vietnam War Service: USS Kilauea provided vital underway replenishment of ammunition and supplies to U.S. Navy ships operating off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
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Replenishment Capabilities: As an ammunition ship, Kilauea was equipped to carry a variety of munitions and could simultaneously replenish multiple ships at sea, including aircraft carriers and cruisers, using both alongside and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) methods.
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Desert Storm: Kilauea participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991, supporting coalition naval forces by delivering ammunition in the Persian Gulf.
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Decommissioning and Transfer: The ship was decommissioned from U.S. Navy service on October 18, 1996, and was subsequently transferred to the Military Sealift Command, where she operated as USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26) with a civilian crew.
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Final Fate: Kilauea was eventually struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 2008 and expended as a target during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2012, where she was sunk by a combination of torpedoes, missiles, and gunfire.
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RIMPAC Sinking: During RIMPAC 2012, the former Kilauea was sunk by the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Farncomb, demonstrating submarine-launched torpedo capabilities in a live-fire exercise.
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Battle Stars: For her service in the Vietnam War, USS Kilauea earned four battle stars, acknowledging her significant contributions to combat support and logistics.
