she headed north to Japan for a brief visit at Yokosuka before getting underway for California. Arriving at Concord, 22 August, she underwent availability and then commenced participation in fleet and local exercises along the California coast. On 20 February 1968, Mauna Kea departed the Naval Weapons Station, Mare Island Annex, Vallejo, California for a WESTPAC deployment. Mauna Kea performed munitions underway replenishment (UNREP) operations to units of the 7th Fleet in the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of South Vietnam. With the exception of UNREP operations at Subic Bay and a port visit to Hong Kong, Mauna Kea conducted these operations in direct support of combat operations from 14 March 1968 to 25 September 1968. During the period of 15 to 16 May 1968, Mauna Kea anchored at Anchorage #13 in Da Nang Harbor, with no disposition. On 17 May 1968, the USS Mauna Kea departed the Gulf of Tonkin en route to Subic Bay, arriving 18 May 1968. The ship visited Hong Kong during the period of 10 to 15 June 1968. Mauna Kea departed Yankee Station on 26 September to return to her homeport, Concord, California, arriving on 14 October 1968. Afterwards she, through the end of 1970, continued servicing the 1st Fleet until setting out for the western Pacific and another tour with the 7th Fleet. 1969–1995 1987-1989 homeport Between 1971 and 1973, USS Mauna KEA (AE-22) was hit by a mine and was repaired at Sasebo, Japan. On Jan 15, 1973 in the South China Sea a forklift driver aboard ship reported a UFO hovering nearby during an ammunition transfer Decommissioning and disposal Mauna Kea was decommissioned on 30 June 1995, and struck from the Navy list on 12 December 1996. On 18 December 1998, she was transferred to the Maritime Administration as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California. The ship was finally sunk as a target during RIMPAC 2006 off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, on 12 July 2006. References External links Suribachi-class ammunition ships Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States Vietnam War auxiliary ships of the United States Ships built in Sparrows Point, Maryland 1956 ships