USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16)
USS Howard W. Gilmore in the 1960s
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 United States
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| Name: | USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) |
| Namesake: | Howard W. Gilmore |
| Builder: | Mare Island Navy Yard |
| Launched: | 16 September 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 24 May 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 30 September 1980 |
| Struck: | 1 December 1980 |
| Motto: | Service for the silent service |
| Fate: | Scrapped, March 2006 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Fulton-class submarine tender |
| Displacement: | 9,250 long tons (9,398 t) |
| Length: | 529 ft 6 in (161.39 m) |
| Beam: | 73 ft 4 in (22.35 m) |
| Draft: | 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) |
| Speed: | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement: | 1,303 |
| Armament: | 4 × 5 in (130 mm) guns |
USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) was a Fulton-class submarine tender, originally named Neptune but renamed Howard W. Gilmore in honor of Commander Howard W. Gilmore, a Medal of Honor recipient. She was launched by the Mare Island Navy Yard at Mare Island, California, on 16 September 1943, sponsored by Mrs. H. W. Gilmore, widow of Howard W. Gilmore and was commissioned 24 May 1944, with Captain D. N. Cone in command.
For her first two months, Howard W. Gilmore conducted shakedown training out of San Diego, California. After loading parts and supplies, she sailed 12 August for Pearl Harbor, arriving on 18 August 1944.
Howard W. Gilmore arrived Majuro Atoll on 19 September 1944, and began her vital tending duties. In the four months that followed she made voyage repairs on submarines, replenished them, and helped in training both crewmen and repairmen. These tasks contributed to the attacks on Japanese shipping which hastened the end of the war. The ship also provided repairs and parts for surface ships when necessary.
Returning to Pearl Harbor on 29 January 1945, the ship took on replacement crews for Australia based submarines and sailed for Brisbane, arriving 23 February 1945. But the tender was soon underway again, this time sailing via Humboldt Bay to Subic Bay, Philippines, with supplies for an advanced base. The Howard W. Gilmore arrived 13 March 1945 and immediately started refitting 7th Fleet submarines and setting up a recuperation area for their crews. She continued this duty through the climactic days of the Pacific war, sailing for the East Coast, via Pearl Harbor and Panama 31 August 1945. Arriving in New York City on 17 October, the Howard W. Gilmore took part in the Navy Day celebrations in New York Harbor, where the fleet was reviewed by President Harry S. Truman.
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