"LEADING THE WAY"

UNITED STATES NAVAL SHIP SACAGAWEA is a Lewis and Clark class dry cargo ship. This class of ship's primary mission is to resupply the U.S. Navy fleet through connected replenishment (CONREP) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) while at sea. By performing its' mission, USNS SACAGAWEA enables the combatant fleet to remain underway and operational. The crew consists of more than 100 civil service mariners and a small U.S. Navy Det of about 12. USNS SACAGAWEA delivers ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water, and a variety of petroleum products to strike groups and other naval forces around the world. Dry cargo ships like USNS SACAGAWEA have been described as floating supermarkets; carrying various types of food and supplies needed by Navy combatant ships. USNS SACAGAWEA is capable of replenishing three ships at the same time, one to either side and a third ship from astern. Cargo carried by USNS SACAGAWEA can be transferred by using helicopters (VERTREP) to lift large pallets loaded with supplies and parts. Through the use of lines and hoses (CONREP) suspended above the water, USNS SACAGAWEA can transfer cargo as she and the receiving ship move forward on the same course and at the same speed, sometimes less than 100 feet apart. SACAGAWEA is named for the famous Native American guide who led the way during the Lewis and Clark expedition.