Wrangell Class
USS Wrangell (AE-12)
More details about the volcano can be found at the
USGS site
USS Katmai (AE-12)
Launched 6th January, 1945
As cover indicates, ship renamed Mount Katmai and becomes
AE-16
Recipient of 9 Battle Stars for activity in Korea.
Struck in 1973
For a very photogenic tour of Katmai NP, visit Aron Meltzner's
site here
USS Vesuvius (AE-15)
An ammunition ship of the "Wrangell Class".
Launched May 26th 1944, Commissioned January 16th 1945.
Following deployment to Okinawa and the Philippines, placed
on reserve in 1946
Recommissioned in 1951 following Korean Conflict.
In December of 1966, in unusual mission, returned to US with
$9.7 million from Pearl Harbor
Recipient of 2 Battle Stars in WWII, 2 from Korea, and 10
from Vietnam.
After stellar performance, decommissioned August 14th, 1973
Stamps of the Vesuvius Volcano can be viewed here
USS Great Sitkin (AE-17)
Commissioned August 11th, 1945
Used in the Mediterranean and Caribbean
Present in Caribbean for "Cuban Missile Crisis".
A description of the Great Sitkin volcano can be found at
the Alaska
Volcano Observatory site
USS Paricutin (AE-18)
Commissioned 25th July 1945
Only two years after the "birth" of the volcano
in 1943.
Decommissioned in 1948
Reactivated for the Korean Conflict in 1950
Struck in 1973
A stamp and postcard featuring Paricutin Volcano can be viewed
here
Patriotic 4th July, 1953 cover of USS Paricutin with photo
of the ship.
Stamp is 3¢ commemorative of American Chemical Society
Diamond Jubilee
USS Diamond Head (AE-19)
Commissioned 1945, Decommissioned 1946, Recommissioned 1951,
Struck 1973
A small article about the volcano can be found here
A real letter sent from USS Diamond Head
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