USS Vega (AF-59)

• Namesake and Class: USS Vega (AF-59) was the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the name "Vega," named after the brightest star in the constellation Lyra. She was an Alstede-class stores ship. • Commissioning: USS Vega was commissioned on 10 December 1955, after being laid down as a C2-S-B1 type cargo ship and later converted for naval service. • Supply Role: As a stores ship, Vega’s main mission was to deliver refrigerated and dry provisions to Navy ships and bases, playing a crucial role in sustaining fleet operations at sea. • Far East Deployments: Vega made regular deployments to the Western Pacific, supplying the 7th Fleet during peacetime and crisis operations, particularly during the Cold War era. • Vietnam War Service: During the Vietnam War, USS Vega was instrumental in logistics support, providing supplies to ships engaged in combat and patrol operations off the coast of Vietnam. • Notable Incident: In January 1967, Vega aided the fire-damaged USS Forrestal (CVA-59) by transferring vital stores and supplies, exemplifying the importance of support ships during emergencies. • Innovative Resupply: Vega often conducted "vertical replenishment" (VERTREP) operations using helicopters, a relatively new method at the time, to quickly transfer cargo to other vessels at sea. • International Engagements: The ship frequently visited ports in Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and other Pacific locations, fostering goodwill and logistic ties with allied nations. • Decommissioning: After over two decades of service, USS Vega was decommissioned on 28 September 1977 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day. • Final Fate: The ship was eventually sold for scrapping in 1982, but her legacy endures as a vital support vessel that kept the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed fleets supplied and mission-ready.