Logistics Prepositioning Force

The Logistics Prepositioning Force Project currently operates seven vessels around the world for the United States Navy, the Defense Logistics Agency and the United States Air Force.

The Air Force prepositioned fleet consists of three munitions carriers. The combination roll-on/roll-off/container vessels MV BUFFALO SOLDIER and MV MAJ BERNARD F. FISHER are located in Diego Garcia under MPS Squadron Two's operational control. The third Air Force vessel, MV CAPTAIN STEVEN L. BENNETT, began her prepositioning service in the first quarter of FY98 and operates in the Mediterranean under MPS Squadron One's operational control.

For Navy prepositioning, MSC operates the Navy's first modular cargo delivery system (MCDS) vessel, SS CAPE JACOB, at Diego Garcia. The vessel will carry Navy Ordnance and will also have the capability to operate as a shuttle replenishment ship for naval battle groups.

MSC operates three prepositioning vessels for the Defense Logistics Agency. Two off-shore petroleum discharge system (OPDS) tankers, SS POTOMAC and SS PETERSBURG, and one tanker capable of underway replenishment, USNS HENRY J. KAISER (TAO-187), support the requirements for prepositioned fuel afloat. These three vessels have a combined capacity of more than 650,000 barrels of fuel to support deployed forces ashore and afloat.

Two aviation logistics support ships, SS CURTISS and SS WRIGHT, support United States Marine Corps helicopters. The two ships are maintained by the Maritime Administration, one on the U.S. East Coast and one on the West Coast, in reduced operating status (ROS-5). The vessels can be made ready to deploy within five days to a contingency operation anywhere in the world.

The Logistics Prepositioning Force staff work hand-in-hand with commercial operating companies and vessel owners who provide the vessels to MSC under contract.