Mount Baker (AE 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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UNITED T TES SHIP MOU T BAKER Fleet Ammunition Ship The USS MOUNT BAKER CAE-345 joined the fleet in July 1972. She is one of the four newest fleet ammunition ships in the Navy - the AE-32 class. This modern class of auxiliary support ship has brought an increased capability to the fleet for underway replenishment. With her advanced-design replenishment facilities, she can more effectively accomplish the rapid transfer of ammunition and other cargo to fleet units at sea. MOUNT BAKER is 564 feet in length and 81 feet in the beam. When fully loaded with 6,000 tons of ordnance cargo and 2,500 tons of fuel, MOUNT BAKER displaces 19,000 tons and has a minimum draft of 28 feet. The ship is armed with two Close In Weapon Systems mounts. MOUNT BAKER has berthing and messing accomodations for 31 officers and 399 enlisted personnel. When deployed, a Helicopter Support Detachment and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team are embarked. This modern fleet ammunition ship is the second ship in the U.S. Navy to bear the name MOUNT BAKER. The first ship, also an ammunition ship CAE-45, took part with gallantry and honor in both the European and Pacific theaters of operation during World War II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. She was stricken from the Naval Register in December 1969. Both the old and new MOUNT BAKER were narned for one of the more recently active volcanoes in the United States. Mount Baker, a peak 10,778 feet high, is located in the Cascade Mountain Range in the state of Washington. Having erupted as late as 1854, fumes and smoke can still be seen emanating from the peak today. On.30 April 1792, Lieutenant Joseph Baker III, Royal Navy, aboard HMS DISCOVERY, sighted the mountain which bears his name. Primarily, USS MOUNT BAKER replenishes other fleet units with bombs, bullets, missiles, mines, projectiles, powder, torpedoes, various other explosive devices and incendiaries as well as associated ordnance cargo. Secondarily, she maintains a replenishment at sea capability for limited quantities of fuel, water and combat stores. The ship also has facilities for limited ship repair and maintenance services, as well as special project services.

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COMMAN DI G OFFICER Commander Deborah A. Loewer, USN CDR Loewer graduated from officer candidate school and was commissioned an ensrgn December 17, 1976 She holds degrees in Theoretical Mathematics and Computer Science from Wrrght State University and a PhD rn international law from the University of Kiel rn Kiel, Germany. As one of the first women selected for shipboard duty, she left Washington, D.C., where she had been assigned as the Navy s pay and allowance functional manager, and reported to the USS YOSEMITE1AD 195 in June 1979 after graduating first in her class from Surface Warfare Officer School. She held brllets as Electrical Division Officer Operations Officer, Navigator and Admin Officer. During her time on board the YOSEMITE, CDR Loewer was assigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Force as a design architect for shipboard computer systems, and as project officer for developmental software for SIMA, Mayport. In 1982, she returned to Washington, D.C., as a . 0 telecommunications design engineer in the Decisions Support Systems Division at the Naval Military In June of 1984 CDR Loewer was selected as an Olmsted Scholar, and attended the Defense L2lI1SU?ge Institute in Monterey Calrfornra, the Goethe Institute in Stuttgart, Germany, and the University ofK1C1 rn Kiel Germany She returned to the United States in 1986, and attended the Surface Warfare OffiCCf Department Head Course again graduating first in her class. She reported aboard the USS YELLOWSTONE 1AD 415 and served as Engineering Officer and Executive Officer. In 1990, CDR Loewer was assigned to the USS MONONGAHELA 1AO-1785 as the Executive Officer. In 1991, CDR Loewer returned t0 Washington, D.C., for duty as a Long Range Strategic Planner and United Nations Action Officer in the Strategic Concepts Branch. In November 1993, CDR Loewer reported to her first command at S93 aboard the USS MOUNT BAKER 1AE-345. Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal 135, NHVQ' Achievement Medal 125, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Ullll Commendation 125, Navy E Ribbon 125, National Defense SCI'V1Ce Medal, SCH Service Deployment Ribbon 125, and the Coast Guard special Operations Ribbon. L