USS Firedrake (AE-14)

• Namesake: USS Firedrake (AE-14) was named after the mythical "firedrake," a dragon or fire-breathing creature, reflecting the ship’s mission of carrying explosive ordnance. • Class & Type: She was a Mount Hood-class ammunition ship, one of a series built during World War II to transport and supply ammunition to the fleet at sea. • Launch & Commission: Firedrake was launched on 13 February 1944 by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company and commissioned on 27 August 1944. • World War II Service: The ship saw action in the Pacific Theater during WWII, supplying ammunition to combat ships during key operations such as the battles for the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. • Korean War Role: Recommissioned for the Korean War, Firedrake provided vital logistic support to United Nations naval forces, rearming ships at sea to sustain combat operations. • Vietnam War Deployments: USS Firedrake served multiple tours off the coast of Vietnam, supporting operations such as "Rolling Thunder" by replenishing aircraft carriers and surface combatants with bombs and other munitions. • Replenishment at Sea: The ship was a pioneer in underway replenishment (UNREP), refining techniques for transferring explosives between ships in heavy seas—a dangerous but essential mission. • Crew Safety Innovations: Due to the hazardous nature of her cargo, Firedrake’s crew developed stringent safety protocols and trained extensively for fire and explosion emergencies. • Decommissioning: After decades of service and numerous awards, the ship was decommissioned on 31 August 1971 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1976. • Legacy: USS Firedrake earned 8 battle stars for World War II service, 2 for the Korean War, and 9 campaign stars for Vietnam, marking her as one of the most decorated ammunition ships in U.S. Navy history.