The USNS Kiska is one of five ammunition ships operated by Military Sealift Command

Military Sealift Command

The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...

, and one of the 41 ships in the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force

Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force

The 42 ships of the Military Sealift Command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force are the supply lines to U.S. Navy ships at sea. These ships provide virtually everything that Navy ships need, including fuel, food, ordnance, spare parts, mail and other supplies. NFAF ships enable the Navy fleet to remain...

. The ship was laid down on 8 April 1971 at Ingalls Shipbuilding

Ingalls Shipbuilding

Ingalls Shipbuilding is a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938, and is now part of Huntington Ingalls Industries...

, Pascagoula, MS as the USS Kiska (AE-35) and was launched on 11 March 1972. Originally commissioned on December 16, 1972 she was decommissioned on 1 August 1996, and that same day entered service with Military Sealift Command as the USNS Kiska (T-AE 35). She continued to operate under Military Sealift Command's control until she was deactivated at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on January 15, 2011.
Kiska is the eighth and final ship of the Kilauea class

Kilauea class ammunition ship

The Kilauea class ammunition ship is a class of eight United States Navy cargo vessels designed for underway replenishment of naval warships. The ships were constructed 1968–72 and were initially commissioned naval ships, carrying a crew of naval personnel...

ammunition ships. Kiska is scheduled to be disposed of by sinking in FY 2012.

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