USS Mt. Baker (T-AE34)

• Namesake: USS Mount Baker (AE-34) was named after Mount Baker, a prominent volcano in Washington State, continuing the Navy’s tradition of naming ammunition ships after volcanoes. • Class: She was part of the Kilauea-class of ammunition ships, designed to carry and transfer ammunition and explosives to combat ships at sea. • Commissioning: Mount Baker was commissioned on 22 July 1972, serving during the Cold War and through the late 20th century. • UNREP Operations: The ship specialized in underway replenishment (UNREP), providing vital ammunition, provisions, and stores to U.S. Navy and allied vessels during extended operations at sea. • Homeport: Her primary homeport was Earle, New Jersey, providing rapid Atlantic deployment capabilities. • Gulf War Service: USS Mount Baker played a key logistical role during Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991), supplying ammunition to U.S. and coalition warships in the Persian Gulf. • MSC Transfer: In 1996, she was decommissioned from the U.S. Navy and transferred to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Mount Baker (T-AE-34), crewed primarily by civilian mariners. • Joint Exercises: The ship participated in numerous joint training exercises with NATO and allied navies, enhancing interoperability and coalition logistics. • Deactivation: Mount Baker was taken out of service and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 2010, marking the end of her nearly 40-year career. • Legacy: She was the second Navy ship to bear the name; the first, AE-4, served during World War II and the Korean War, establishing a proud lineage of service and support for the fleet.