USS San Diego (AFS-6)

USS "San Diego" (AFS-6) was a "Mars"-class combat stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1968. She served the U.S. Atlantic Fleet until decommissioned in 1993 and was then redesignated the USNS "San Diego" (T-AFS-6).

Built in California

The third ship to be so named, "San Diego", a combat store ship, was laid down on 11 March 1967 by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company at San Diego, California; launched on 13 April 1968; sponsored by Mrs. Frank Curran; and commissioned on 24 May 1969, Capt. John W. Wells in command.

Navy service

After shakedown and refresher training in late 1969, "San Diego" began a seven-month, deployment to the Mediterranean in support of the U.S. 6th Fleet. She returned to her home port, Norfolk, Virginia, and remained on the U.S. East Coast until February of 1971 when she was selected to represent the U.S. Atlantic Fleet at the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In April, she deployed again to the 6th Fleet and stayed in the Mediterranean until October. During this tour of duty, she earned the Supply Efficiency "E," rescued sailors from a burning Greek freighter, and represented the 6th Fleet at Admiral Farragut Day at Minorca, Balearic Islands. On 27 July 1972, following more than nine months back in the United States operating and training along the Atlantic seaboard, "San Diego" got underway to return to the 6th Fleet. She arrived at Rota, Spain, on 4 August and relieved "Sylvania" (AFS-2) as the on-station combat store ship with the 6th Fleet. At the end of another six months of service in the Mediterranean, "Scm Diego" got underway to return to Norfolk, Virginia, in January 1973. She arrived on the 26th and resumed normal operations with the Atlantic Fleet. "San Diego" operated out of Norfolk, along the eastern seaboard, and in the Caribbean until late October 1973. At that time, she departed Norfolk for her fourth tour of duty in the Mediterranean. She arrived at Rota, Spain, on 4 November. The combat store ship cruised the “middle sea” with the 6th Fleet for the next six months, getting underway from Rota on 19 April 1974 to return to Norfolk. "San Diego" reached Norfolk on the 27th and, as of 30 June 1974, was still in port there.

Subsequent history

On 11 August 1993 "San Diego" was decommissioned and placed in service as USNS "San Diego" (T-AFS-6). She remained in service as a USNS until 10 December 1997 when she was laid up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was struck from the Navy List on 10 December 1997 and she was sold for scrap at Philadelphia on 9 April 2006.

See also

* United States Navy

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/52/5206.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USNS San Diego (T-AFS-6) – ex - USS San Diego (AFS-6) (1969 - 1993)]