USS Kilauea (AE-26)

• Namesake: USS Kilauea (AE-26) was named after Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, located in Hawaii. This naming follows a tradition of naming ammunition ships after volcanoes and other explosive phenomena. • Class Leader: Kilauea was the lead ship of the Kilauea-class ammunition ships, designed to replace older World War II-era ships and provide improved logistics support to the fleet. • Commissioning: The ship was launched on August 9, 1967, by General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division in Massachusetts and was commissioned on August 10, 1968. • Vietnam War Service: USS Kilauea provided vital underway replenishment of ammunition and supplies to U.S. Navy ships operating off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. • Replenishment Capabilities: As an ammunition ship, Kilauea was equipped to carry a variety of munitions and could simultaneously replenish multiple ships at sea, including aircraft carriers and cruisers, using both alongside and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) methods. • Desert Storm: Kilauea participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-1991, supporting coalition naval forces by delivering ammunition in the Persian Gulf. • Decommissioning and Transfer: The ship was decommissioned from U.S. Navy service on October 18, 1996, and was subsequently transferred to the Military Sealift Command, where she operated as USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26) with a civilian crew. • Final Fate: Kilauea was eventually struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 2008 and expended as a target during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2012, where she was sunk by a combination of torpedoes, missiles, and gunfire. • RIMPAC Sinking: During RIMPAC 2012, the former Kilauea was sunk by the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Farncomb, demonstrating submarine-launched torpedo capabilities in a live-fire exercise. • Battle Stars: For her service in the Vietnam War, USS Kilauea earned four battle stars, acknowledging her significant contributions to combat support and logistics.