On 20 September 1945, Diamond Head reported for duty to Norfolk Commander, Service Force, Atlantic. After crew training, the Bureau of Ships used the Diamond Head experimentally to test suitable exterior markings for hospital ships. She departed Norfolk on 5 April 1946, for Galveston, Texas, arriving five days later. Diamond Head was placed out of commission and into the reserve fleet on 23 August 1946.
Diamond Head was recommissioned on 9 August 1951, as part of the naval expansion brought about by the Korean War. Assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the ammunition ship took her place as part of the vital logistics support force that has given the United States Navy outstanding sea-keeping ability and unprecedented mobility. Diamond Head served in various operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean, and through 1960 had made five cruises with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean.
In March 1961, Diamond Head was deployed to the Caribbean in support of the Bay of Pigs invasion.[1] On 27 April 1961, Diamond Head collided with the USS Independence, causing a fire in the ship's forecastle, flooding the forward magazine, and tearing a hole in the hull above the waterline.[2]Diamond Head sailed to Guantanamo Bay for repairs, while the Independence was not damaged.[3]
On 16 March 1967, Diamond Head left Norfolk, Virginia, for a nine-month deployment off Vietnam. She transited the Panama Canal on 22 March, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 5 April 1967. She arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines on 22 April. From May through October, the crew rearmed almost 200 ships, transferring almost 12,000 tonnes (26,000,000 lb) of ammunition. The ship also visited Manila; Hong Kong; Sasebo, Japan; Pearl Harbor; San Diego; and Panama City for much appreciated Rest & Recreation. Diamond Head arrived in Norfolk on 19 December 1967.
The ship was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 March 1973 and sold for scrapping in 1974.
Referencesedit
^"USS Diamond Head (AR-19) Deployments & History". HullNumber.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
^"12 Men Hurt As 2 Carriers Are Damaged". Associated Press. April 1961. Retrieved 14 July 2020. The ammunition ship USS Diamond Head and the carrier USS Independence collided while replenishing, causing extensive damage to the Diamond Head. Crewmen quickly confined damage on the Diamond Head. Crewmen extinguished a fire in the ship's forecastle and the forward magazine was flooded. A 20-ft long hole was punched in the Diamond Head's right side 12 ft above the waterline. One crewman received minor injuries. The ship proceeded to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Independence resumed operations. No one was injured aboard the Independence.
^"USS Diamond Head (AE 19)". navysite.de. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Diamond Head (AE-19) (ship, 1945).
Photo gallery of Diamond Head at NavSource Naval History
AE-19 Internet Links
April 13, 2024
diamond, head, mount, hood, class, ammunition, ship, service, with, united, states, navy, 1945, 1946, from, 1951, 1973, sold, scrapping, 1974, historyunited, statesnamenamesakediamond, head, volcano, hawaiilaunched3, february, 1945acquired10, march, 1945commis. USS Diamond Head AE 19 was a Mount Hood class ammunition ship in service with the United States Navy in 1945 1946 and from 1951 to 1973 She was sold for scrapping in 1974 HistoryUnited StatesNameUSS Diamond HeadNamesakeDiamond Head a volcano in HawaiiLaunched3 February 1945Acquired10 March 1945Commissioned9 August 1945Recommissioned9 August 1951Decommissioned23 August 1946Out of service1 March 1973Stricken1 March 1973FateSold for scrapping 3 October 1974General characteristicsLength459 ft 2 in 140 m Beam63 ft 19 2 m Draft28 ft 3 in 8 6 m PropulsionGeared turbine 1 shaft 6 000 shp 4 5 MW Speed16 knots 30 km h Capacity7 700 long tons 7 800 t deadweightComplement267 officers and enlistedHistory editUSS Diamond Head was launched on 3 February 1945 the ship was built by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Co Wilmington North Carolina under a Maritime Commission contract and sponsored by Mrs D Bill Transferred to the U S Navy on 10 March 1945 and converted at Bethlehem Key Highway Shipyard Baltimore Maryland to carry and transfer naval ammunition the ship was commissioned on 9 August 1945 under the command of Lieutenant Commander F C Snow USNR On 20 September 1945 Diamond Head reported for duty to Norfolk Commander Service Force Atlantic After crew training the Bureau of Ships used the Diamond Head experimentally to test suitable exterior markings for hospital ships She departed Norfolk on 5 April 1946 for Galveston Texas arriving five days later Diamond Head was placed out of commission and into the reserve fleet on 23 August 1946 Diamond Head was recommissioned on 9 August 1951 as part of the naval expansion brought about by the Korean War Assigned to the U S Atlantic Fleet the ammunition ship took her place as part of the vital logistics support force that has given the United States Navy outstanding sea keeping ability and unprecedented mobility Diamond Head served in various operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean and through 1960 had made five cruises with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean In March 1961 Diamond Head was deployed to the Caribbean in support of the Bay of Pigs invasion 1 On 27 April 1961 Diamond Head collided with the USS Independence causing a fire in the ship s forecastle flooding the forward magazine and tearing a hole in the hull above the waterline 2 Diamond Head sailed to Guantanamo Bay for repairs while the Independence was not damaged 3 On 16 March 1967 Diamond Head left Norfolk Virginia for a nine month deployment off Vietnam She transited the Panama Canal on 22 March arriving at Pearl Harbor on 5 April 1967 She arrived in Subic Bay Philippines on 22 April From May through October the crew rearmed almost 200 ships transferring almost 12 000 tonnes 26 000 000 lb of ammunition The ship also visited Manila Hong Kong Sasebo Japan Pearl Harbor San Diego and Panama City for much appreciated Rest amp Recreation Diamond Head arrived in Norfolk on 19 December 1967 The ship was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 March 1973 and sold for scrapping in 1974 References edit USS Diamond Head AR 19 Deployments amp History HullNumber com Retrieved 14 July 2020 12 Men Hurt As 2 Carriers Are Damaged Associated Press April 1961 Retrieved 14 July 2020 The ammunition ship USS Diamond Head and the carrier USS Independence collided while replenishing causing extensive damage to the Diamond Head Crewmen quickly confined damage on the Diamond Head Crewmen extinguished a fire in the ship s forecastle and the forward magazine was flooded A 20 ft long hole was punched in the Diamond Head s right side 12 ft above the waterline One crewman received minor injuries The ship proceeded to Guantanamo Bay Cuba and the Independence resumed operations No one was injured aboard the Independence USS Diamond Head AE 19 navysite de Retrieved 14 July 2020 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Diamond Head AE 19 ship 1945 Photo gallery of Diamond Head at NavSource Naval History AE 19 Internet Links Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Diamond Head amp oldid 1150327393, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
