Tenders - USS McKee AS 41

United States Navy

Submarine Tenders

USS McKee AS 41

USS McKee AS 41 in 1981

The ship's crest depicts USS MCKEE servicing both diesel and nuclear-powered submarines. The two dolphins are taken from the insignia worn by submarine qualified personnel. THe Latin motto "Plus Ultra Plurimum" translates to, "The Best of the Best."

Displacement (tons Laden)	23,000	Built / Launched	1/14/1978 / 2/16/1980
Length	645' 8"	Built By	Lockheed Shipbuilding, Seatle, Wa.
Beam	85' 0"	Class	Emory S. Land
Draft	26' 0"	Commisioned	8/15/1981
Speed (rated)	18.0kts	Decommisioned	7/16/1999
Compliment	1,500	Disposition	Unknown at this time Currently Transiting to Norfolk due 9/99

The McKee's Commanding Officiers
CAPTAIN D. S. GORHAM	AUGUST 1981 - JULY 1983
CAPTAIN J. S. ROBERTSON	JULY 1983 - JULY 1985
CAPTAIN R. N. JOHANNES	JULY 1985 - AUGUST 1987
CAPTAIN A. E. WALTHER	AUGUST 1987 - AUGUST 1989
CAPTAIN R. SCHLICHTER	AUGUST 1989 - AUGUST 1991
CAPTAIN W. A. HARDING	AUGUST 1991 - JULY 1993
CAPTAIN T. H. ETTER	JULY 1993 - AUGUST 1995
CAPTAIN T. J. TRAVERSO	AUGUST 1995 - JULY 1997
CAPTAIN J. J. DONNELLY	JULY 1997 - JULY 1998
CAPTAIN E. R. JABLONSKI	JULY 1998 - SEPTEMBER 1999

Some of McKee's Awards
Battle Efficiency "E"	1985
Meritorious Unit Commendation	1986
Battle Efficiency "E"	1986
Golden Anchor Award	1986
Battle Efficiency "E"	1987
Meritorious Unit Commendation	1991
Southwest Asia Service Medal	1991
Battle Efficiency "E"	1991
Meritorious Unit Commendation	1998

The McKee was named for Rear Admiral Andrew McKee - who made many significant design innovations in US Submarine design - particularly in the designs that became the "Standard" US design in WWII.

REAR ADMIRALANDREW I. MCKEE
SUBMARINE PIONEER

Rear Admiral Andrew I. McKee, for whom the AS-41 Submarine Tender is named, pioneered modern submarine design and development. A native of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Admiral McKee graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned an Ensign in 1917. He served with USS HUNTINGTON until he reported to the Naval Academy as a navigation and physics instructor. In 1921 he received a Master's Degree in Naval Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Following several design and construction posts, he became Officer in Charge of submarine design for the Navy Department from 1926 to 1930, where he directed the design of the first new classes from which evolved the successful fleet submarines of WWII.

Admiral McKee worked in submarine planning, design and construction as the Design Superintendent of the Portsmouth Navy Yard from 1938 to 1945 and was awarded a Legion of Merit for his service there.

In 1945, he joined the staff of Commander Service Force, Pacific Fleet, as senior Assistant Fleet Maintenance Officer. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal and also a Gold Star in lien of a second Legion of Merit for directing emergency combat repairs of ships during the assult on Okinawa.

Following his retirement, Admiral McKee spent many years as a research and design engineer for the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics corporation in Connecticut. He died in 1976 at the age of 80.

Mrs. Ingeborg McKee, widow of the late Rear Admiral McKee launches USS MCKEE (AS 41) in February 1981

USS MCKEE (AS 4 1) was commissioned 16 August 1981, and follows USS EMORY S. LAND (AS 39) and USS FRANK CABLE (AS 40) as the third of the LAND class of submarine tenders built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington. After a series of sea trials, MCKEE joined USS DIXON (AS 37) in San Diego to support Pacific Fleet submarines.

During MCKEE's first decade, she set the standard for submarine support around the world. Early in 1984 MCKEE became the first submarine tender certified to support the new Tomahawk Cruise Missile system. MCKEE earned three consecutive Battle Efficiency "E" awards in 1985, 1986 and 1987. In addition to the Battle "E" in 1986, MCKEE was honored with the Golden Anchor Award for retention excellence and her first Meritorious Unit Commendation.

In 1987, MCKEE was the first submarine tender to visit Adak, Alaska since World War 11, and conducted the first nuclear submarine upkeep at this remote location. 1988 saw MCKEE become the first submarine tender certified to handle the Tomahawk Vertical Launch System (VLS).
In March 1990, MCKEE continued leading the way for submarine tenders by participating in the first underway Fuel replenishment by a Pacific Fleet submarine tender. This fuel was in preparation for deployment to the Persian Gulf in January 1991.

When Operation Desert Storm began, MCKEE deployed to the Persian Gulf and spent six months providing support to submarines and surface combatants. MCKEE was awarded a second Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Following Desert Storm, MCKEE was awarded a fourth Battle Efficiency "E" Award.
In 1995, after the decommissioning of USS DIXON, MCKEE provided all support to San Diego based submarines. Assistance was also provided to many Allied submarines while they visited Point Loma.

In 1998, MCKEE earned a third Meritorious Unit Commendation following a six month deployment to Pearl Harbor. During this deployment, MCKEE provided services and conducted repairs to both U.S. and Allied submarines and surface combatants. Upon returning to San Diego, the ship took the lead in establishing shore-based services that will support the submarines after MCKEE's departure.

On two occasions during 1989, MCKEE demonstrated remote site IMA capabilities while anchored out.

MCKEE provides services for submarines as well as surface ships while deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991.

MCKEE Sailors man the rails as she begins the return trip home from her final deployment in 1998.

Sailors of the McKee...

This picture is appropriate to the fact that the sun is setting permanently on the Submarine Tender Fleet. With the inactivation of the McKee... only two remain in active service.

Our thanks to
Captain Jablonski
and his Administration staff for providing the McKee's history and many great pictures.

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