USS Mount Katmai ( AE - 16 ) USS " Mount Katmai " ( AE - 16 ) was a " Mount Hood " - class ammunition ship of the United States Navy , that saw service in the Korean War and the Vietnam War . The ship was laid down on 11 November 1944 by North Carolina Shipbuilding Co . , Wilmington , N . C . ; launched on 6 January 1945 , sponsored by Mrs . A . E . DeMaray ; and commissioned on 21 July 1945 at Jacksonville , Florida , Comdr . C . H . Ross in command . Service history . Pacific , 1945 – 1950 . After shakedown and fitting out , " Mount Katmai " reported to Commander Service Force Atlantic Fleet on 8 September 1945 . She was then ordered to proceed to Hawaii via the Panama Canal . The ammunition ship was assigned to the western Pacific from there , arriving Leyte in mid - October 1945 . Korean War , 1950 – 1953 . " Mount Katmai " was involved in normal support operation off the Pacific coast when the Korean War began . On 22 July 1950 she deployed from San Francisco to WestPac , arriving in the combat zone on 18 August . She rearmed and replenished combatant ships of TFs 77 and 95 in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan . Returning home in November 1951 , she departed again for the Korean war theater in April 1952 , again supporting units of TFs 77 and 95 . Back in the United States in February 1953 , she sailed again for the Far East in May 1953 . During this deployment , she rearmed approximately 50 ships before the war ended . WestPac deployments , 1954 – 1964 . Following the armistice , " Mount Katmai " returned to CONUS for overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard . She got underway for the Far East in May 1954 for a six - month tour , the first of nine WestPac deployments in the following decade , in which she alternated service on the west coast with operations in the Far East . In December 1964 " Mount Katmai " commenced an extensive overhaul period , including installation of increased communications capabilities and a helicopter deck for vertical replenishment . Vietnam , 1965 – 1973 . On 26 February 1965 , the ship departed San Francisco , underway to a new war zone to replenish 7th Fleet ships . She arrived Subic Bay on 15 May via Pearl Harbor . Within a few days , she was underway for rearming operations in the South China Sea , servicing the carrier strike groups and combatant ships off Vietnam . Operating out of Subic , " Mount Katmai " provided logistical support to the operating forces until late November . She departed Hong Kong on 1 December 1965 , arriving San Francisco on 16 December . Entering Hunter ' s Point Naval Shipyard on 17 January 1966 for overhaul , the ship returned to an operational status with Service Force Pacific Fleet on 21 March . She participated in type and 1st Fleet training operations until 1 June when she deployed to WestPac . After a short visit in Hawaii , she arrived in her WestPac home port of Subic Bay on 25 June . On 5 July she was underway for " Yankee Station " , to rearm carriers and their escorts . In addition to providing aircraft ordnance for airstrikes against North Vietnam , the ship also provided ammunition for ships engaged in support and interdiction shore fire missions along the entire Vietnamese coast . Once more homeward bound , " Mount Katmai " was underway from Subic Bay on 12 January 1967 , arriving San Francisco on 7 February . After overhaul in Mare Island Naval Shipyard until 19 July , and type training , the ammunition ship was ready to sail west again . Leaving San Francisco on 7 August 1967 , she arrived at Subic Bay on 30 August via Pearl Harbor . Rearming operations were conducted in the South China Sea and off the coast of Vietnam with carriers and fire support ships . " Mount Katmai " was underway from Subic Bay on 11 March 1968 , and arrived San Francisco on 28 March . After a three - month overhaul period and type training , she left San Francisco on 31 August and arrived back at Subic Bay on 24 September . She continued to provide ammunition to U . S . and Allied combatants off the coast of Vietnam into 1973 . Decommissioning and sale . " Mount Katmai " was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 14 August 1973 . Turned over to Maritime Administration ( MARAD ) she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet until sold for scrapping on 5 April 1974 , to Nicolai Joffe Corp . , for $ 243 , 210 . Awards . " Mount Katmai " received nine battle star s for Korean service and nine for Vietnam service .