About this Unit
USS San Jose (AFS-7) was a Mars-class combat stores ship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1970. Designed to provide underway replenishment of food, spare parts, and other supplies to naval vessels at sea, she played a vital logistical role during the Vietnam War and throughout the Cold War era. San Jose participated in numerous operations, including support for the U.S. Pacific Fleet and deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. She was decommissioned in 1993 and later transferred to the Military Sealift Command as USNS San Jose (T-AFS-7), continuing her service until her final deactivation in 2010.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS San Jose (AFS-7) was named after the city of San Jose, California, continuing the tradition of naming combat stores ships after American cities.
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Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 23 October 1970, and became the seventh and final Mars-class combat stores ship built for the US Navy.
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Homeport: Its primary homeport was Guam, making it a crucial logistics link for the U.S. 7th Fleet operating in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
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Vietnam War Service: USS San Jose participated in support operations during the Vietnam War, supplying food, ammunition, and other essentials to ships and units in the combat zone.
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Operation Desert Storm: The ship played a significant role in Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991), providing underway replenishment to U.S. and coalition warships in the Persian Gulf.
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UNREP Pioneer: As a Mars-class ship, San Jose was equipped for both vertical replenishment (VERTREP) with helicopters and conventional alongside replenishment (CONREP), making her a versatile supply vessel.
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Conversion to MSC: In 1993, USS San Jose was decommissioned from the U.S. Navy and transferred to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS San Jose (T-AFS-7), staffed primarily by civilian mariners.
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Humanitarian Missions: Throughout her career, San Jose participated in several humanitarian operations, including disaster relief in the Pacific following typhoons and earthquakes.
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Long Service Life: The ship served actively for over 36 years, from 1970 until her final deactivation in 2007, providing vital logistics support during multiple conflicts and peacetime operations.
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Final Fate: After being in reserve for several years, USNS San Jose was towed to Brownsville, Texas, for scrapping in 2013, ending a distinguished career at sea.
