USS Mount Hood (AE-29)

• Namesake Legacy: USS Mount Hood (AE-29) was named after Mount Hood, the highest peak in Oregon, following a tradition of ammunition ships being named after volcanoes. • Second of Her Name: AE-29 was the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Mount Hood. The first, AE-11, tragically exploded in 1944 during World War II in Seeadler Harbor, causing massive loss of life and damage. • Class and Construction: She was the fourth ship of the Kilauea-class ammunition ships, constructed by Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Sparrows Point, Maryland, and commissioned on May 1, 1971. • Vital Logistics Role: Mount Hood’s mission was to deliver ammunition and explosives to ships at sea and at shore, supporting sustained U.S. naval operations around the world. • Vietnam and Beyond: Mount Hood was deployed to the Western Pacific and supported combat operations during the Vietnam War, replenishing ships on Yankee Station and elsewhere. • Innovative Replenishment: The ship regularly performed “underway replenishment,” transferring ammunition to other vessels while both ships were moving, a complex and hazardous operation. • Women at Sea: In the late 1970s, Mount Hood was among the first Navy combatant ships to embark female sailors as part of the Navy’s gender integration efforts. • Cold War Service: During the 1980s, she supported carrier battle groups during exercises and real-world operations, including in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, showcasing U.S. presence during tense periods. • Humanitarian Missions: Besides military operations, Mount Hood provided logistical support for humanitarian and rescue missions, exemplifying the Navy’s global reach and flexibility. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Mount Hood was decommissioned on August 10, 1999, struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 2001, and eventually scrapped, closing nearly three decades of distinguished service.