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U.S.S. NITRO

(AE-23)

SERVICE TO THE FLEET

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USS NITRO (AE-23) - a Nitro-class ammunition ship

In Commission 1959 to 1995

AE-23 Deployments - Major Events

Add a AE-23 Shellback Initiation Add a AE-23 Deployment - Major Event
Month Year to Month Year Deployment / Event
MAY1957-Keel Date: 20 MAY 1957
at Bethlehem Steel Corporation
JUN1958-Launch Date: 25 JUN 1958
MAY1959-Commissioned: 1 MAY 1959
OCT1962-OCT1962Cuban Missle Blockade
FEB1963-SEP1963Mediterranean
JUL1964-FEB1965Mediterranean
NOV1965-MAR1966Mediterranean
MAY1968-DEC1968Mediterranean
JUL1969-DEC1969Mediterranean
OCT1970-MAY1971Mediterranean
NOV1971-MAR1972West Pac-Viet Nam
MAR1972-DEC1972West Pac-Viet Nam
APR1972-MAR1973West Pac-Viet Nam
APR1972-FEB1973Veitnam Waters
APR1972-FEB1973Vietnam
MAY1972-FEB1973West Pac-Viet Nam
NOV1974-JUN1975Mediterranean
NOV1974- Shellback Initiation - 16 NOV 1974 - Atlantic Ocean
FEB1976-NOV1976Mediterranean
SEP1978-FEB1979Mediterranean
JUN1979-Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1979 - Atlantic Ocean
JAN1980-JAN1989Mediterranean
SEP1980-NOV1980North Atlantic
JAN1981-JAN1984Mediterranean
FEB1981-AUG1981Mediterranean
MAY1981-OCT1981Guantanamo Bay
JAN1982-JAN1983Dry Dock
JAN1982-DEC1990Guantanamo Bay
NOV1983-MAY1984Mediterranean-Lebanon
MAR1985-NOV1985Mediterranean
AUG1986-OCT1986Blue Nose - Arctic Circle
AUG1986-OCT1986North Atlantic
DEC1986-JUL1987Mediterranean
JAN1988-DEC1988Desert Storm
AUG1988-NOV1988Guantanamo Bay
DEC1988-JUL1989Mediterranean
AUG1990-DEC1990Desert Shield
DEC1990-JUN1991Desert Storm
JAN1991-JUN1991Desert Shield
FEB1991-Shellback Initiation - 17 FEB 1991 - Indian Ocean
FEB1991-Shellback Initiation - 17 FEB 1991 - Atlantic Ocean
MAR1991-Shellback Initiation - 15 MAR 1991 - Indian Ocean
APR1995-Decommissioned: 28 APR 1995

AE-23 General Specifications

Class: Nitro-class ammunition ship

Complement: 331 Officers and Enlisted

Displacement: 8300 tons

Length: 512 feet

Beam: 72 feet

Draft: 29 feet



USS NITRO (AE-23)



Nitro (AE-23) was laid down by Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Sparrows Point Shipyard, Baltimore Md., 20 May 1957; launched 25 June 1958; sponsored by Mrs. Randolph McCall Pate; and commissioned 1 May 1959, Capt. Warren C. Hall in command.

After shakedown in the Caribbean, Nitro was welcomed at her homeport, Davisville, R.I. After lengthy 2nd Fleet exercises she joined the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean in February 1960, returning in September. She was back in the Mediterranean in the summer of 1961, returning to Norfolk 3 March 1962. During April and May she supported 2d Fleet exercises in the Caribbean. On 6 September she steamed for an operational and good will visit to Northern Europe, returning to Earle, N.J., 15 October. During the period from 11 to 24 November, Nitro sailed to the Caribbean in support of the Task Force engaged in the quarantine of Cuba. She returned to Davisville 24 November.

On 6 February 1963 Nitro departed for 6th Fleet operations, returning to Davisville 24 September. After overhaul at Brooklyn, she operated in the Caribbean and off the east coast until 17 July 1964 when she again deployed to the Mediterranean, returning 5 February 1965. She spent the rest of the year in Davisville and operating in the Caribbean until 16 November when she again steamed east for Gibraltar. She returned from the Mediterranean 22 March 1966.

On 18 May her status was changed to in commission in reserve for conversion at Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Baltimore where she remained until recommissioned special 31 August 1967. She got underway 16 October to operate off the east coast and at year's end was back at Davisville. She continues her alternating service with the 2nd and 6th Fleets into 1970.

[Note: The above USS NITRO (AE-23) history may, or may not, contain text provided by crew members of the USS NITRO (AE-23), or by other non-crew members, and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]