MSC PAO 03-35
July 28, 2003
For more information, contact:
Marge Holtz or B.J. Talley
(202) 685-5055

USNS Bob Hope carries on despite
loss of namesake

Bob Hope, the namesake of Military Sealift Command large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Bob Hope, died July 27 at his home in Pasadena, Ca.

USNS Bob Hope is the lead ship of one of the U.S. Navy's newest and largest classes of military cargo ships. The large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship or LMSR is named for legendary American entertainer Bob Hope, who tirelessly worked to raise the morale of U.S. troops for more than 50 years. From World War II to Desert Storm, Hope brought smiles to the faces of countless military personnel serving their nation at home and abroad.

USNS Bob Hope was constructed by Avondale Industries in New Orleans, La., and christened by Bob Hope's wife, Delores Hope, in 1997. It delivered to the Navy's Military Sealift Command in November, 1998.

Currently USNS Bob Hope is underway in the U.S. Central Command area of operations returning equipment for the U.S. Army Third Infantry Division to the United States. When not operating the ship is kept in a reduced operating status at its layberth in Violet, La.

Since its delivery in 1998, USNS Bob Hope has participated in New York City's 1999 Fleet Week and transported cargo in support of United Nations operations in Kosovo in 2000. The ship has also sailed more than 20,000 miles during multiple trips carrying equipment for various U.S. Army units working in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in 2002 and 2003.

USNS Bob Hope's seven decks provide adequate space to transport more than 300,000 square feet of U.S. military combat and support equipment. The ship is crewed by 30 civilian mariners employed by a private company under contract to MSC.

The Navy's Military Sealift Command normally operates 120 civilian-crewed, noncombatant ships for a variety of missions around the world. That number expanded to about 214 in March as additional ships were activated from reduced operating status or chartered for the command's support of U.S. forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

From January to April 2003, MSC ships delivered more than 21 million square feet of combat equipment and other cargo -- the equivalent of more than 300 football fields -- to the Central Command area of operations. The command's fleet support ships also pumped more than 117 million gallons of fuel to U.S. Navy and coalition warships in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

MSC ship missions include underway replenishment of U.S. Navy ships at sea, prepositioning and transport of defense cargo and at-sea data collection for the U.S. military and other U.S. government agencies.