>From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," 

(1970) Vol. 5, pp.97-98.





NITRO





	In chemistry, a word element indicating the NO2 radical 

in certain compounds containing nitrogen.





AE-2

Displacement:  10,600 t.

Length:  482’ 9 1/2”

Beam:  60’ 11 1/2”

Draft:  20’11”

Speed:  16 k.

Complement:  226

Armament:  4 5”; 2 3”





	NITRO (AE-2) was laid down 19 March 1919 by Puget Sound 

Navy Yard; launched 16 December 1919; sponsored by Mrs. 

Henry Suzalo; and commissioned 1 April 1921, Comdr. R. W. 

Vincent in command.



	Carrying explosives and ammunition for the Battle 

Fleet, NITRO averaged three cruises yearly between the east 

and west coast by way of the Caribbean and Panama Canal.  In 

addition, she made five voyages from the west coast to Pearl 

Harbor, seven to Manila, and one to Shanghai, as well as 

carrying men, ammunition and supplies to Marines in 

Nicaragua in 1928-30.  With Norfolk her home port at the 

beginning of World War II, the veteran ammunition ship 

carried ammunition to the Caribbean bases and twice to 

Recife, Brazil, base for the South Atlantic patrols, until 

she sailed 20 April 1944 for Belfast, Northern Ireland, with 

ammunition for the invasion of Europe.  She operated from 

Belfast, Plymouth, and Roseneath, Scotland, supplying 

battleships with the heavy projectiles they fired with such 

effect during the Normandy invasion.



	On 25 July 1944, NITRO arrived in Mers-el-Kebir, 

Algeria, for similar duty in the invasion of southern 

France, serving there and at Algiers and Corsica until 

28 September, when she sailed for the Panama Canal and Pearl 

Harbor.  After loading ammunition, she sailed for Ulithi, 

arriving 1 December.  Here, she armed ships engaged in the 

Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa campaigns through 20 May 

1945, when she sailed for local cargo and rearming 

operations in the Philippines.



	NITRO returned to Puget Sound 15 August, repaired at 

Portland, Ore., then sailed for the Panama Canal and 

Norfolk, arriving 28 October to decommission 30 November.  

Transferred to the Maritime Commission 30 March 1948, NITRO 

was sold to Welding Shipyards, Inc., New York, 19 September 

1949.



	NITRO received one battle star for World War II 

service.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com