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United States Navy

Submarine Tenders

USS Holland AS 32

AS 32

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USS Holland
Displacement
(tons Laden)
19,820 Built / Launched 1963
Length 599' 0" Built By Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp.,
Pascagoula, Miss.
Beam 83' 0" Class Hunley
Draft 24' 0" Commissioned 1963
Speed (rated) 20.0kts Decommissioned 1996
Compliment 1,346 Disposition For Cash Sale - held at Suisun, California
USS Holland Patch

Commanding Officers, USS Holland AS 32
Captain C. W. Styer 7 September 1963 - 8 August 1964
Captain W. M. Pugh 8 August 1964 - 12 August 1965
Captain E. M. Hopely 12 August 1965 - 8 August 1966
Captain ]. B. Padgett 8 August 1966 -7 October 1967
Captain R. D. Steele 7 October 1967 - 31 March 1969
Captain R. D. Rawlins 31 March 1969 - 22 January 1971
Captain W. J. Cowhill 22 January 1971 - 31 May 1972
Captain J. J. Badgett 31 May 1972 - 20 October 1974
Captain D. G. Smith 20 October 1974 - 9 October 1976
Captain J. S. Hurt 9 October 1976 - 11 February 1977
Captain L. S. Wigley 11 February 1977 - 6 July 1979
Captain S. E. Bump 6 July 1979 - 22 May 1981
Captain J. R. Wilson 22 May 1981 - 7 March 1983
Captain D. E. Broadfield 7 March 1983 - 27 December 1984
Captain J. B. Muellor 21 December 1984 - 14 August 1986
Captain E. S. Little 74 August 1986 - 19 August 1988
Captain F. L. Bowman 19 August 1988 - 14 April 1990
Captain R. B. Avery 14 April 1990 - 78 April 1992
Captain C. B. Young 18 April 1992 - 1 July 1994
Captain J. W. Winney, Jr. 1 July 1994 - 30 September 1996

Throughout USS HOLLAND (AS 32) 33-year history, many awards have been bestowed on her.
The following is a listing of those awards:
Meritorious Unit Citations 1978-1979, 1981, 1990
Humanitarian Service Medal 1989 (Hurricane Hugo), 1992 (Super Typhoon Omar & 7.5 Earthquake)
Golden Anchor 1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1988
Silver Anchor 1988,1995
Edward F. Ney Food Service Award 1988,1989,1991
Battle Efficiency "E' 1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1989,1990,1993,1994,1995
Engineering RED "E" 1984,1985,1990,1994,1995
Repair RED 'R' 1978,1990,1993,1994,1995
Damage Control RED 'DC' 1985,1989,1990
Supply BLUE 'E' 1984,1991,1993,1994
Deck WHITE 'D' 1988,1994,1995
Medical YELLOW "M' 1988,1994
Weapons BLACK "W' 1989,1994
Dental YELLOW 'D' 1991,1995

The third US Navy ship named for John Holland; a short biography is with AS-3.

The third Holland was launched by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss., 19 January 1963; sponsored by Mrs. John C. Stennis, wife of U.S. Senator from the State of Mississippi; delivered to the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C.; and commissioned 7 September 1963, Captain Charles W. Styer, Jr., In command. Holland departed Charleston on 14 October for shake-down training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, returning to Charleston on 19 November. She commenced post-shake-down availability on 25 November.
AS 32 Rota
The Holland tending the fleet at Rota
(Photo courtesy Bob Tripp, LCDR Admin LDO, ex-YNC(SS)).
The opening of 1964 found Holland at Charleston, S.C., making preparations for deployment to the Polaris replenishment anchorage at Rota, Spain. She arrived Rota 1 April and relieved Proteus (AS-19) as the FBM submarine tender shortly thereafter. Holland continued her vital service to the Polaris submarines until relieved 4 November 1966.

History from the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships.

Holland arrived FBM Replenishment Site Four, Naval Weapon Station Charleston, and in June 1967 she relieved the USS Hunley, AS 31.

In 1968, Holland entered Charleston Naval Shipyard for it's first overhaul; which it completed in January, 1969.

After transisting the Atlantic, The Holland resumed duties at Rota completing her second tour there in 1972.

Arriving in Charleston in December 1972, she once again assumed duties at Site Four.

AS 32 overhaul
The Holland getting her new Poseidon Magazine module. The pre-fabricated module was much like the one installed in Hunley.
Holland departed Charleston in August 1974, and transited the Panama Canal on her way to conversion / overhaul at Puget Sound Ship Yard. During this work, the original Polaris Missile Magazine was removed, and a prefabricated, 250-ton Poseidon Magazine was set in it's place. Once this second overhaul of Holland was completed - she re-transited the Panama Canal, and proceeded to her next duty station.
Arriving Site One at Holly Loch, Scotland, in November, 1975, Holland set about a very long and very busy seven years of noteworthy upkeep - during which time she was awarded five consecutive Battle Efficiency "E" and Golden Anchor awards.

In 1978 the Holland was awarded the Battenberg Cup which was presented to the Holland by Lord Mountbatten. The Holland was the only Submarine Tender (to date) to receive this award. The award was for the period 1 January to 31 December 1977 and stated in part :"USS HOLLAND was selected as " The Best" of approximately 240 Atlantic Fleet Ships in overall Battle Efficiency performance, combined with other extraordinary performance and achievement in primary mission support, personnel administration, career motivation and retention, engineering, safety and morale.
Originally the Battenberg Cup was awarded to the winner of a cutter race between the enlisted men of the British and American navies. In its initial 34 years and 52 races, the Americans only lost the cup once - during the Jamestown Exposition in Norfolk, Va., in 1907. The competition was suspended at the outbreak of World War II, with the cup aboard USS West Virginia (BB 48).  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, West Virginia was raised, refitted and returned to battle - carrying the cup until her decommissioning in 1947. The cup was displayed from time to time at various Naval Commands until being permanently displayed at the Navy Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. In 1978 the competition was renewed, however this time the award is given as a symbol of operational excellence to the best ship or submarine in the United States Navy Atlantic Fleet.  USS Holland’s win of the trophy in 1978 was the first (and so far the only) time an auxiliary ship has won the coveted Battenberg Cup, an honor usually associated with capitol ships.
{This portion of history courtesy Dick Gill , Captain USN (Retired), and supplemented by Jesse Burcell}

AS 32 Charleston
In December, 1982, Holland arrived in Charleston, and underwent an overhaul, and then ship and crew underwent special training and Loadout in preparation for a deployment to the Indian Ocean. Completing these tasks, Holland departed Charleston, and on May 22, 1983 she transited the Suez Canal, arriving on station at Diego Garcia in June 1983.

After anchoring at Diego Garcia for 85 days, Holland again set sail - this time transiting the Panama Canal for the third time on October 4, 1983 - and arriving Charleston later that same month.

Holland spent the next 8 years at Site Four performing refit, repair and routine and not so routine services. In 1989 Holland made history by performing the first open-ocean mooring of a Ballistic Missile Submarine. Holland's crew also helped in clean-up and rebuilding of Charleston after Hurricane Hugo devastated a great part of South Carolina - for which ship and crew were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal.

AS 32 Guam
USS Holland AS 32 being nudged into it's berth at Polaris Point.
after relieving the "Old Pro"
In 1992 Holland underwent a conversion overhaul in which she was fitted out to service and support Fast Attack Submarines (SSNs). After this conversion, Holland departed Charleston for the last time - transiting the Panama Canal once again - to her new "home port" and to relieve her old friend for the last time. Arriving at Guam in time for the July 4th "Hail and Farewell" party - Holland was welcomed to the Island as the permanent replacement for the "Old Pro" who after a 28 year association with the island spanning some 4 decades - was deactivated on July 11, 1992. On July 17, 1992 Holland assumed full duties at Site Three.
AS 32 Guam
Holland cruising off of Guam
During the next four years, Holland and her crew served with distinction from Site Four, serving ships and crews both there - and forward deployments that included Yokosuka, Sasebo, Japan; Chinhae, South Korea; Manila, Philippines; Darwin, Australia; Hong Kong, U.K.; and Singapore. Also during this time - the crew had many opportunities on Guam to show it's ability to respond to natural disasters - including five Typhoons - including super Typhoon Omar, and a 7.5 Richter Scale earthquake in the summer of 1992 - and in recognition of the crew's outstanding response - the ship and crew were awarded The Humanitarian Service Medal - again!

Unlike the years spent basically tied to the pier as do SSBN tenders - Holland enjoyed her last four years - taking to sea often - and in challenging tasks - some of the feats she accomplished during those years: Full-rated turns on a full power run for the first time in ten years - an underway Replenishment, bringing onboard 300 tons of fuel, certifying the flight deck for helicopter operations; and transporting two helos for HC-5 from Guam to Japan to meet operational requirements --- not bad for a lady pushing past her 30th year!

April, 1996 Holland was relieved at Site Three by the Frank Cable.
As noted in her Decommissioning Ceremony Book - The four years Holland has served in the Western Pacific has allowed the ship to show that her two mottos are a true testament to the ship's legacy-- "The World's Greatest Tender" and Fixer, Feeder - WESTPAC Leader."

On April 13, 1996 in Apra Harbor, Guam, Captain J. William Winney, Jr. USN read the Decommissioning Directive - and the Holland's Commission Pennant was hauled down - and the USS Holland was officially retired from service.

Leaving Guam, Holland made port-o-call at Hong Kong, U.K.; Pearl Harbor, HI; Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada and she finally arrived at Bremerton, Washington, where she awaits "disposition".

History between 1967 and 1996 from various sources, including Holland's Decommissioning book, News Paper Articles, and other materials provided by:
Jay Gieseke,
former Lieutenant, Medical Service Corps
PROTEUS Safety Officer Aug. 91 - Sep. 92
NAVHOSP Guam, Industrial Hygiene Officer Sept. 92 - Mar 95
HOLLAND Acting Safety Officer May - Nov. 93
-- and to whom we are very greatful!!!


AS 31 1963
The Holland as built in 1963.

AS 32 1970
USS Holland AS 32 servicing two boats in 1970.
The original Hammer-head crane has been replaced
with twin 30 ton capacity cranes amidship.

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