Ships/Navy: Sealift program

Sea Power, Jan 2002

FAST SEALIFT SHIPS (T-AKR)

BRIEFING: Originally built as container ships for private industry, eight fast sealift ships were acquired by the Department of Defense between 1979 and 1981 to enhance the U.S. military's sealift capability. The ships were modified to provide roll-on/roll-off and additional lift capabilities, as well as dry-cargo carrying capability. The first of the eight conversions was delivered in June 1984, the last in May 1986. All eight participated individually in various training exercises after delivery to Military Sealift Command. However, they had not been concurrently activated until the United States began its buildup of forces in the Middle East following the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Fast sealift ships were the first ships to be loaded in the United States and to set sail for the Middle East. The ships are kept in reduced operating status (ROS) and can be available for activation in four days. At various times, each of the ships has been activated in response to crisis situations. Seven ships made nine trips when U.S. forces deployed at the commencement of operations in Somalia in 1992, and six ships made 10 trips when U.S. forces departed that country in 1994. In August 1998 and again in February 1999, fast sealift ships off-loaded equipment and supplies in Croatia to support NATO peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia. When not operating, the ships are layberthed on the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States, close to potential loading ports.

LARGE, MEDIUM-SPEED, ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF SHIPS (T-AKR)

BRIEFING: As part of the ongoing effort to upgrade the nation's sealift surge capability 11 LMSRs will be assigned to the sealift program. Currently, eight of these LMSRs are being used in the program: USNS Shughart (T-AKR 295), USNS Gordon (T-AKR 296), USNS Yano (T-AKR 297), USNS Gilliland (T-- AKR 298), USNS Fisher (T-AKR 301), USNS Seay (T-AKR 302), USNS Mendonca (T-AKR 303), and USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304).

DRY CARGO SHIPS

BRIEFING: These ships provide sealift for the movement of Department of

Defense supplies to points all over the world.

TANKERS (T-AOT)

BRIEFING: Point-to-point tankers augment and support fleet oilers in supplying fleet units and facilities with petroleum products. The most modem of these are the five ships of the T-5 class, the last two of which were delivered in 1986.