USS Mars (AFS-1)

The third United States Navy ship to bear the name Mars, USS "Mars" (AFS‑1), was laid down by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, California, on 5 May 1962; launched on 15 June 1963, sponsored by Mrs. Clyde Doyle, widow of Representative Clyde Doyle of California; and commissioned at Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 21 December 1963, with Captain Russel C. Medley in command.

"Mars" was the first of a new class that was intended to replace three types of supply ships: the AF, AKS, and AVS. Two innovations were Boeing UH‑46 helicopters and an automatic highline shuttle transfer system to make a rapid transfer of supplies possible. To speed replenishment processing, "Mars" became the first ship in the Pacific Fleet to be equipped with a 1004 Univac computer system.

Assigned to Service Squadron 1, "Mars" left San Diego on 16 March 1964 for Acapulco, Mexico, for shakedown, returning to San Diego Easter Sunday. On 1 September she departed for the western Pacific, arriving at Yokosuka, Japan, on the 23rd. With Yokosuka as home port, the combat storeship operated from the Philippines to the South China Sea through the rest of the year.

"Mars" continued through the next 3 years to provide logistic support to the far‑ranging 7th Fleet at sea, especially off Vietnam, while revisiting the South Pacific ports of Hong Kong; Sasebo, Japan; and Subic Bay, Philippines. Typical of the combat storeship’s supply activities was a night vertical replenishment of USS "Canberra" (CAG‑2) while the heavy cruiser was fighting off Vietnam, her 8‑inch guns on the engaged side fired in support of troops ashore. "Mars" had taken an especially active part in similar operations helping block Chinese communist inspired Vietcong aggression in South Vietnam. She set several replenishment records in 1967 and 1968, and into 1969 continued to play an important role in the fleet operations in the Southeast Asia area.

She underwent extensive overhaul from late August, 1971 through April, 1972 in Richmond, CA, receiving naval distillate fuel burning boilers, upgrade electronics, etc. She was then immediately deployed to the South China Sea to support the Seventh Fleet and Marine Amphibious forces after the increased Vietnam war activity that Spring. She returned to her homeport of Alameda, CA, that December; homeport was then moved to Sasebo, Japan during April, 1973. From April, 1973 through the end of 1974, "Mars" continued replenishing the ships of the western Pacific and made two trips to the Indian Ocean to support the US Navy patrolling the Persian Gulf area.

On May 14, 1979, USS|Cook|FF-1083 and "Mars" collided off Point Loma near San Diego, CA, injuring seven.

"Mars" participated in PACEX '89 with port visits to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Pusan, Korea, Yokosuka, Japan and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

"Mars" was decommissioned from naval service on February 1, 1993, at Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA, and was placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Mars (T-AFS-1).

On February, 19, 1998, "Mars" was placed out of service by the Military Sealift Command and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Pearl Harbor, HI, (Maintenance Category "B"). "Mars" was struck from the Naval Register on May 24, 2004, and retained as a logistics support asset (Maintenance category "L") at Pearl Harbor,

"Mars" final disposition was as a torpedo target during RIMPAC 2006 exercises. She was sunk off the coast of Hawaii on July 15, 2006. "Mars" rests in 2,750 fathoms of water some 54 miles off the coast.

"Mars" received the Navy Unit Commendation and eleven campaign stars for Vietnam War service.

In April of 2006, the bell of the "Mars" was donated to the small borough of Mars, Pennsylvania as a memorial. The ship was named after the Western Pennsylvania community. U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, and former crew members were present at the ceremony, and helped to dedicate the large brass bell to the ship's namesake.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m5/mars-iii.htm

External links

* [http://www.ussmars.com/page/page/1792121.htm Offical Home Page of the USS/USNS Mars (AFS/TAFS-1) Reunion Association]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/52/5201.htm navsource.org: AFS-1 "Mars"]
* [http://www.mars.citymax.com/page/page/5943771.htm Video of sinking of ex-USS/USNS Mars]