USS Nitro (AE–23), an ammunition ship in the U.S. Navy, was laid down by Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Sparrows Point Shipyard at Baltimore, Maryland, on 20 May 1957 and launched on 25 June 1958.

[citation needed] On 18 May 1966, her status was changed to in commission in reserve for conversion at Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Baltimore, where she remained until recommissioned "special" 31 August 1967.

Nitro was towed to Souda Bay, Crete, by the USS Neosho where she started emergency repairs and off-loaded ammunition.

The ship was then towed to Hellenic Shipyard in Athens by the USS Edenton where she underwent a 30-day availability for extensive repairs prior to returning to operations in the Med.

[citation needed] After continuing her alternating service with the 2nd and 6th Fleets into the 1990s Nitro was decommissioned on 28 April 1995 and struck from the Naval Register on 14 August of the same year.

On 31 March 2000 she was turned over to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, Virginia.