About this Unit
USS SANTA BARBARA (AE-28) was a Kilauea-class ammunition ship commissioned by the United States Navy on July 11, 1970. Homeported in Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey, she provided underway replenishment of ammunition and explosives to fleet units, playing a vital logistic role during the Cold War and supporting operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. SANTA BARBARA participated in numerous NATO exercises and deployments with the U.S. Sixth Fleet, ensuring combat readiness for naval strike groups. The ship was decommissioned on December 30, 1998, after nearly three decades of distinguished service.
Historical Facts
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Commissioning and Namesake: USS SANTA BARBARA (AE-28) was commissioned on July 11, 1970, and named after the city of Santa Barbara, California, as well as the patron saint of artillerymen, Saint Barbara.
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Class and Role: She was the lead ship of the Kilauea-class of ammunition ships, designed to deliver ammunition and explosives to ships at sea, enabling naval forces to remain operational without returning to port.
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Vietnam War Service: Shortly after entering service, SANTA BARBARA participated in operations supporting U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, providing crucial underway replenishment to combat ships.
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First All-Female Replenishment Team: In 1979, she made history by completing the Navy's first underway replenishment with an all-female crew team, supporting the growing integration of women into the fleet.
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North Atlantic and Mediterranean Deployments: Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the ship regularly deployed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and participated in NATO exercises in the North Atlantic.
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Lebanon Peacekeeping Support: In 1983, during the Lebanon crisis, SANTA BARBARA played a key logistics role, supplying ammunition and support to U.S. forces off the Lebanese coast.
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Libyan Operations: The ship supported U.S. naval operations in the Gulf of Sidra during confrontations with Libya in the 1980s, providing ammunition to combatant vessels.
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Operation Desert Storm: USS SANTA BARBARA was deployed during the Gulf War in 1991, supplying ammunition to coalition ships enforcing operations in the Persian Gulf.
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Decommissioning and Fate: She was decommissioned on December 30, 1998, after nearly 29 years of service, and was later scrapped in 2005.
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Awards and Honors: Over her career, the ship and her crew earned numerous awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.
