USS Mount McKinley
The ship began life as Cyclone, a transport laid down on the 31st of July 1943 by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington. It launched on the 27th of September and was sponsored by Mrs. T. L. Lainer before being renamed Mount McKinley on the 27th of December 1943. The vessel entered active service at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on the 1st of May 1944. This amphibious force flagship carried advanced communications equipment to serve as a floating command post for large-scale operations. Designated AGC-7, it became the lead ship of its class dedicated to coordinating landing forces.
Mount McKinley departed Norfolk on the 8th of June 1944 bound for Hawaii, arriving at Pearl Harbor on the 27th of June. The assault force reached Peleliu on the 15th of September under Major General Roy S. Geiger directing the 1st Marine Division. On the 28th of September the ship moved to Ngesebus Island to coordinate shore bombardment. After securing the chain's main islands, the vessel left the area on the 14th of October. It later sailed to San Pedro Bay for the assault on Leyte and Ormoc while facing constant air attacks without sustaining damage. The ship directed an unopposed landing at San Narciso near Subic Bay before returning to Leyte Gulf.
Following World War II, the ship deployed to Bikini Atoll in early summer 1946 to serve as flagship for Operation Crossroads. Admiral William H. P. Blandy flew his flag from this vessel during the atomic tests that took place in July. In early 1948, Mount McKinley commanded the atomic bomb test at Eniwetok. The vessel operated out of San Diego for 18 months after these nuclear exercises concluded. Later, in the spring of 1955, it served as flagship for Operation Wigwam, an underwater atomic bomb test in the central Pacific. Press observers boarded the ship in April to witness further nuclear tests.
On the 20th of May 1950, Mount McKinley headed to WestPac to conduct training operations with the 8th Army. The ship proceeded from Japan to Pohang on the 26th of June to direct American reinforcements at the start of the Korean War. General Douglas MacArthur was aboard in early September 1950 directing the amphibious assault at Inchon. This operation forced North Koreans to retreat northward toward Wonsan. When Chinese forces pushed UN troops back to Hungnam beachhead, the ship assisted in evacuating thousands of Korean refugees to Cheju Island by late January 1951. A helicopter deck was installed on the fantail while undergoing overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard between August and November 1951.
The ship arrived in Norfolk on the 20th of September 1956 after transiting the Panama Canal following detachment from the Pacific Fleet. On the 9th of January 1957 it deployed to the Mediterranean where it rescued a Greek fishing vessel crew and towed the damaged ship into port. During Operation Strikeback in September and October, the vessel anchored in Portsmouth Navy Yard to provide command control for Orange opposition naval forces. Tensions rose in the Middle East during January 1958, delaying its return home. Mount McKinley served as an afloat headquarters for Marines landed in Lebanon during the July crisis before returning to Norfolk on the 16th of August.
The vessel was decommissioned on the 26th of March 1970 after years of service across multiple global conflicts. It was stricken from the Navy list on the 30th of July 1976 and sold for disposal later that year. Mount McKinley earned four battle stars for its World War II service alone. Eight additional stars recognized its contributions during the Korean War period. A Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation honored its final major deployment era. The ship remains remembered as the lead vessel of its amphibious force command class.
Common questions
When was the USS Mount McKinley launched and renamed?
The vessel launched on the 27th of September 1943 and was renamed Mount McKinley on the 27th of December 1943. It entered active service at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on the 1st of May 1944.
What major conflicts did the USS Mount McKinley serve in during its career?
USS Mount McKinley served in World War II, Operation Crossroads atomic tests, Operation Wigwam, the Korean War including the Inchon landing, and the Lebanon crisis of 1958. The ship earned four battle stars for World War II and eight additional stars for the Korean War period.
Who commanded operations aboard the USS Mount McKinley during the Korean War?
General Douglas MacArthur was aboard the ship in early September 1950 directing the amphibious assault at Inchon. Admiral William H. P. Blandy flew his flag from this vessel during the atomic tests that took place in July 1946.
Where did the USS Mount McKinley deploy after leaving Norfolk in 1957?
The ship deployed to the Mediterranean where it rescued a Greek fishing vessel crew and towed the damaged ship into port. During Operation Strikeback in September and October, the vessel anchored in Portsmouth Navy Yard to provide command control for Orange opposition naval forces.
When was the USS Mount McKinley decommissioned and what happened to it afterward?
The vessel was decommissioned on the 26th of March 1970 after years of service across multiple global conflicts. It was stricken from the Navy list on the 30th of July 1976 and sold for disposal later that year.