USS Mars (AFS-1)

• First of Her Class: USS Mars (AFS-1) was the lead ship of the Mars-class combat stores ships, designed to provide underway replenishment of provisions, ammunition, and stores to U.S. Navy ships at sea. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 21 December 1963, at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. • Vietnam War Service: USS Mars played a crucial logistical role during the Vietnam War, supplying aircraft carriers and other warships operating off the coast of Vietnam. • Aviation Capability: Mars was the first stores ship designed and built from the keel up with a helicopter platform, capable of vertical replenishment (VERTREP) operations, greatly increasing efficiency. • Nickname: Crewmembers affectionately referred to the ship as "the grocery store to the fleet" due to her vital supply role. • Special Distinctions: In 1974, Mars became the first ship in her class to operate with a mixed-gender crew when female officers and enlisted sailors reported aboard. • Global Operations: Over her career, Mars completed multiple deployments in the Pacific, supporting operations from the Gulf of Tonkin to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. • Operation Desert Storm: USS Mars participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, supporting coalition naval forces with vital supplies during combat operations. • Decommissioning: After nearly 30 years of service, Mars was decommissioned on 1 February 1993 and later struck from the Naval Vessel Register. • Final Fate: The ship was sunk as a target during a fleet training exercise off the coast of Hawaii in 2006, continuing to serve as a training aid for the U.S. Navy even after her active service ended.