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History of USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16)

USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) was a Fulton-class submarine tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1944. Named after Medal of Honor recipient Commander Howard W. Gilmore, the ship provided vital repair, supply, and logistical support to submarines operating in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, the Gilmore continued servicing submarines during the Cold War era, including deployments to the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets. Decommissioned in 1980, the vessel played a crucial role in maintaining the operational readiness of the U.S. submarine force for over three decades.

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ABOUT USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16)

  • Namesake: USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) was named in honor of Commander Howard W. Gilmore, a submarine commander and Medal of Honor recipient, famous for the command "Take her down!" that cost him his life but saved his crew and submarine in WWII.
  • Launch & Commission: The ship was launched on September 16, 1943, by the Moore Dry Dock Company in Oakland, California, and commissioned on May 24, 1944.
  • Purpose: USS Howard W. Gilmore was a Fulton-class submarine tender, designed to provide maintenance, supplies, and support for submarine squadrons at sea.
  • WWII Service: During World War II, she served at Pearl Harbor, Midway, and in the Mariana Islands, providing vital services to submarines engaged in the Pacific campaign.
  • Postwar Activity: After WWII, the ship continued its support mission, operating out of Pearl Harbor and later Charleston, South Carolina, during the Cold War era.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Howard W. Gilmore was stationed at Key West, Florida, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, providing support to submarines on heightened alert.
  • Longest-Serving Tender: At the time of her decommissioning in 1980, she was one of the longest-serving submarine tenders in the U.S. Navy, with over 35 years in service.
  • Homeport Changes: Her homeports included Pearl Harbor, Key West, Charleston, and La Maddalena, Sardinia (Italy), reflecting her global operational reach.
  • International Service: In the late 1970s, she served as the flagship of the U.S. submarine force in the Mediterranean, supporting NATO operations.
  • Final Fate: USS Howard W. Gilmore was decommissioned on September 30, 1980, struck from the Naval Register, and later sold for scrap in 2006, ending her long and distinguished career.

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