USS Wrangell (AE-12)

• Namesake Origin: USS Wrangell (AE-12) was named after Wrangell Island in Alaska, itself named for Russian explorer Ferdinand von Wrangel. • World War II Service: Commissioned in October 1944, Wrangell supported Pacific operations, supplying ammunition to ships during campaigns such as Okinawa and the Philippines. • Kamikaze Danger: While off Okinawa in 1945, Wrangell operated under constant threat from Japanese kamikaze attacks but managed to fulfill her vital rearming mission without direct hit. • Postwar Far East Operations: After WWII, Wrangell supported occupation forces in Japan and China, aiding in the demilitarization efforts. • Korean War Role: Reactivated for the Korean War, Wrangell supplied munitions to U.S. Navy ships operating off the Korean Peninsula, ensuring sustained combat operations. • Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, Wrangell played a critical part in the naval blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis, keeping U.S. warships armed and ready. • Vietnam War Deployments: Throughout the 1960s, she made multiple deployments to the Western Pacific, supporting naval operations off Vietnam by transferring tons of ammunition at sea. • First Female Officer: In the late 1960s, Wrangell became one of the first ammunition ships to have a female officer assigned as part of a Navy integration pilot program. • Ammunition Transfer Innovation: Wrangell was an early adopter of underway replenishment (UNREP), perfecting the complex art of transferring volatile munitions to other ships while both were moving at sea. • Decommissioning and Fate: After decades of service in three major conflicts, Wrangell was decommissioned in 1970 and eventually sold for scrap, closing a long chapter of logistical excellence.