UNDERWAY! 2025 Wall Calendar / W.W. II SPECIAL EDITION NOW AVAILABLE - CLICK HERE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For RATING SHIRTS - Click on your Rating Abbreviation below: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click on your Rating abbreviation above: |
U.S.S. NITRO
(AE-23)SERVICE TO THE FLEET
Click to view crew list
USS NITRO (AE-23) - a Nitro-class ammunition ship
In Commission 1959 to 1995AE-23 Deployments - Major Events
Add a AE-23 Shellback Initiation | Add a AE-23 Deployment - Major Event | ||||
Month | Year | to | Month | Year | Deployment / Event |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAY | 1957 | - | Keel Date: 20 MAY 1957 at Bethlehem Steel Corporation | ||
JUN | 1958 | - | Launch Date: 25 JUN 1958 | ||
MAY | 1959 | - | Commissioned: 1 MAY 1959 | ||
OCT | 1962 | - | OCT | 1962 | Cuban Missle Blockade |
FEB | 1963 | - | SEP | 1963 | Mediterranean |
JUL | 1964 | - | FEB | 1965 | Mediterranean |
NOV | 1965 | - | MAR | 1966 | Mediterranean |
MAY | 1968 | - | DEC | 1968 | Mediterranean |
JUL | 1969 | - | DEC | 1969 | Mediterranean |
OCT | 1970 | - | MAY | 1971 | Mediterranean |
NOV | 1971 | - | MAR | 1972 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAR | 1972 | - | DEC | 1972 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1972 | - | MAR | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1972 | - | FEB | 1973 | Veitnam Waters |
APR | 1972 | - | FEB | 1973 | Vietnam |
MAY | 1972 | - | FEB | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
NOV | 1974 | - | JUN | 1975 | Mediterranean |
NOV | 1974 | - | Shellback Initiation - 16 NOV 1974 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
FEB | 1976 | - | NOV | 1976 | Mediterranean |
SEP | 1978 | - | FEB | 1979 | Mediterranean |
JUN | 1979 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 JUN 1979 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
JAN | 1980 | - | JAN | 1989 | Mediterranean |
SEP | 1980 | - | NOV | 1980 | North Atlantic |
JAN | 1981 | - | JAN | 1984 | Mediterranean |
FEB | 1981 | - | AUG | 1981 | Mediterranean |
MAY | 1981 | - | OCT | 1981 | Guantanamo Bay |
JAN | 1982 | - | JAN | 1983 | Dry Dock |
JAN | 1982 | - | DEC | 1990 | Guantanamo Bay |
NOV | 1983 | - | MAY | 1984 | Mediterranean-Lebanon |
MAR | 1985 | - | NOV | 1985 | Mediterranean |
AUG | 1986 | - | OCT | 1986 | Blue Nose - Arctic Circle |
AUG | 1986 | - | OCT | 1986 | North Atlantic |
DEC | 1986 | - | JUL | 1987 | Mediterranean |
JAN | 1988 | - | DEC | 1988 | Desert Storm |
AUG | 1988 | - | NOV | 1988 | Guantanamo Bay |
DEC | 1988 | - | JUL | 1989 | Mediterranean |
AUG | 1990 | - | DEC | 1990 | Desert Shield |
DEC | 1990 | - | JUN | 1991 | Desert Storm |
JAN | 1991 | - | JUN | 1991 | Desert Shield |
FEB | 1991 | - | Shellback Initiation - 17 FEB 1991 - Indian Ocean | ||
FEB | 1991 | - | Shellback Initiation - 17 FEB 1991 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
MAR | 1991 | - | Shellback Initiation - 15 MAR 1991 - Indian Ocean | ||
APR | 1995 | - | 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]