Immediately went to work for Kitsap County in 1992 following military retirement. Presently the Maintenance Supervisor here at the Kitsap County Fair and Events Center. Retired November 13 2009.
As an integral unit of the Navy’s Mobile Logistic Support Force (MLSF), MOUNT BAKER’s primary mission is to provide logistic support for the conduct of prompt and sustained combat operations at sea. In effecting these vital services, MOUNTBAKER enhances the Navy’s ability to carry out its mission in support of national policies. In the long term, without logistic support, our forces cannot endure and win.
As part of the Navy’s general purpose forces, MOUNTBAKER performs the supporting naval warfare task of resupplying combat consumables to forces at sea in the theater of operations. This type of support is necessary in order to achieve and maintain the Navy’s requirement for a high degree of logistical independence. These efforts enable the Navy to more effectively perform its functions of sea control and projection of power ashore.
By participating in Fleet exercises with national and NATO Forces, MOUNTBAKER maintains her operational proficiency. Personnel and material readiness are the underpinning for the successful conduct of these operations. Overall Fleet readiness is the keystone for the Navy being able to provide adequate and responsive forces for the security of the sea lines of communication. It is these sea lines of communication over which flow the great majority of international commerce for the trade markets of the world. It is an incontrovertible fact that the economy of the free world depends on the use of ocean shipping. International commerce is essential to the sustained industrial output of the United States and its Allies.
The MOUNTBAKER is assigned to the Service Squadron Two in Service Group Two of the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. While operating in the North Atlantic from her home port of Charleston, South Carolina, she is assigned as a unit of the Second Fleet.
The MOUNTBAKER regularly deploys to the Mediterranean Sea. While operating there, she is assigned as a unit of the Sixth Fleet. As such, she is part of the Navy’s overseas deployed forces. By making various ports-of-call to the littoral countries of the Mediterranean, she fulfills the nationally-directed military presence role in a forward area.
FLEETAMMUNITIONSHIP
The MOUNTBAKER joined the Fleet in July 1972. She is one of the four newest Fleet ammunition ships in the Navy – the AE-32 Class.
This modern class of auxiliary support ship has brought an increased capability to the Fleet for underway replenishment. With her advanced design replenishment facilities, she can more affectively accomplish the rapid transfer of ammunition and other cargo to Fleet units at sea.
MOUNTBAKER is 564 feet in length and 81 feet in the beam. When fully loaded with 6,000 tons of ordnance cargo and 2,500 tons of fuel, MOUNTBAKER displaces 19,000 tons and has a maximum draft of 28 feet. The ship is armed with four 3"/50-caliber rapid-fire guns in two twin mounts. MOUNTBAKER has berthing and messing accommodations for 28 officers and 375 enlisted men. When deployed, a Helicopter Support Detachment and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team are embarked.
This modern Fleet ammunition ship is the second ship in the U.S. Navy to bear the name MOUNTBAKER. The first ship, also an ammunition ship (AE 4), took part with gallantry and honor in both the European and Pacific Theaters of operation during World War II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. She was stricken from the Naval register in December 1969.
Both the old and new MOUNTBAKER were named for one of the more recently active volcanoes in the United States. Mount Baker, a peak 10,778 feet high, is located in the Cascades Mountain Range in the State of Washington. Having erupted as late as 1854, fumes and smoke can still be seen emanating from the peak today. On 30 April 1792, Lieutenant Joseph Baker, III, Royal Navy, aboard the HMSDISCOVERY, sighted the mountain which bears his name.
Primarily, MOUNTBAKER replenishes other Fleet units with bombs, bullets, missiles, mines, projectiles, powder, torpedoes, various other explosive devices and incendiaries, as well as associated ordnance cargo. Secondarily, she maintains a replenishment-at-sea capability for limited quantities of fuel, water, and combat stores. The ship also has facilities for limited ship repair and maintenance services, as well as special project services.
The modern Underway Replenishment (UNREP) facilities in MOUNTBAKER include the capability to support and operate two assigned medium-lift “Sea Knight” Helicopters – the Navy’s CH-46. This added dimension of logistic support capability allows for the Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) of ordnance cargo and combat stores. Fleet units requiring resupply inside, or even somewhat outside, the immediate horizon of the support ship can now be served by VERTREP utilizing these helicopters.
The MOUNTBAKER also maintains the capability for Connected Replenishment (CONREP). This can be accomplished simultaneously with VERTREP. There are seven CONREP stations – four stations to port and three to starboard. The can all be rigged for the Standard Tension Replenishment Alongside Method (STREAM) System. The STREAM System employs a specially designed trolley riding on a constant high-tension span wire. As dictated by the operational situation and resupply requirements, any or all of the station can be utilized concurrently. One ship can be replenished underway alongside to port, while another ship is being serviced alongside to starboard.
MOUNTBAKER has a speed capability in excess of twenty knots, which is enhanced by her bulbous bow, as is her sea-keeping ability in rough seas. This better enables her to keep pace with fast-moving Task Forces at sea.
MOUNTBAKER has three oil-fired Foster Wheeler D-Type Boilers, each capable of full power of producing 87,900 pounds of steam-per-hour, at a pressure of 615 pounds-per-square-inch. The main propulsion plant consists of a high pressure steam turbine to a low-pressure steam turbine geared-drive combination which can develop up to 22,000 shaft horsepower. This drives a single shaft, with a six-bladed propeller, 20 feet in diameter.
The ship is equipped with an automated propulsion system. This system permits personnel in the Pilot House to control the ship’s speed directly, as the propulsion plant responds to their orders. The system also features a mode that allows personnel in the engineering operation station to light-off boilers and operate the propulsion plant by remote control.
MOUNTBAKER is outfitted with a Fleet satellite communication system. In comparison to other systems, this modern and efficient system is less likely to suffer processing delays due to radio frequency interference or message traffic backlogs. Command and control directives and operation orders can be processed on a very near real- time basis, as can logistic requirement requests from other Fleet units.
Additionally, during MOUNT BAKER’s recent overhaul, electronic surveillance equipment referred to as SLQ-32 and SLQ-25 or “NIXIE,” a torpedo countermeasures system, has been installed.
MOUNTBAKER, home ported in Charleston, SC, was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Since commissioning on 22 July 1972, the MOUNTBAKER has operated along the East Coast of the United States, the North Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean.
On 15 November 1975, MOUNTBAKER took part in NATO Exercise DEVIL’s FOIL, which allowed the ship to participate with various NATO Allied ships: HMSARIANDE (British), TGGCAYRET (Turkish), and ITSCARABINIERRE (Italian).
In 1976, the Chief of Naval Operations authorized the testing of the LAMPS MK III System aboard her flight deck. Later that year, MOUNTBAKER gave support to rescue operation of the Navy’s nuclear-powered submersible (NR-11).
The MOUNTBAKER won the Battle Efficiency “E” Award in mid-19077 for excellence as the best ammunition ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
In 1982 and 1983, during the explosive conflicts at Beirut, Lebanon, MOUNTBAKER received many “kudos” from Commander Service Force, U.S. Sixth Fleet and Commander U.S. Sixth Fleet for support to American and Multi-national Forces in the Beirut-Eastern Mediterranean area.
After refresher training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1983, the MOUNTBAKER made a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. Operations included Fleet support; Lebanese contingency evolutions; Masirah, Oman resupply operations; and service to both the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea Battle Groups.
In February 1984, MOUNTBAKER entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for regular overhaul. With completion in November 1984, the MOUNTBAKER became the most capable AE in the Atlantic Fleet.
