Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force Ships - 37 (as of Sept. 30, 2004) Fleet Oilers - 14 USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194) USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) ROS-30* USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) USNS John Lenthall (T-AO 189) USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) USNS Pecos (T-AO 197) USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) USNS Yukon (T-AO 202) Ammunition Ships - 6 USNS Flint (T-AE 32) USNS Kilauea (T-AE 26) ROS-30* USNS Kiska (T-AE 35) USNS Mount Baker (T-AE 34) USNS Santa Barbara (T-AE 28) ROS-90* USNS Shasta (T-AE 33) Combat Stores Ships - 6 USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS 3) USNS San Jose (T-AFS 7) USNS Saturn (T-AFS 10) USNS Sirius (T-AFS 8) USNS Spica (T-AFS 9) Fleet Ocean Tugs - 5 USNS Apache (T-ATF 172) USNS Catawba (T-ATF 168) USNS Mohawk (T-ATF 170) USNS Navajo (T-ATF 169) USNS Sioux (T-ATF 171) Fast Combat Support Ships - 4 USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7) USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) Hospital Ships - 2 USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) ROS-5* USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) ROS-5* *Reduced Operating Status      (5, 30, 45 or 90 days)

n 2004, Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force ships again proved to be an effective force in the continuing global war on terrorism. On average, NFAF ships were underway and conducted port operations two out of every three days during the fiscal year. NFAF ships pumped more than 149 million gallons of ship propulsion fuel and 279 million gallons of aviation fuel to U.S. Navy and coalition surface combatants during the year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and other fleet missions. At the same time NFAF ships delivered more than 1.3 million square feet of dry cargo to Navy combatants in underway replenishments at sea.

USS Seattle comes along the port side of MSC oiler USNS Patuxent in order to be refueled. Photo by Katie Dunnigan.

Fleet Replenishment Oilers

In FY 2004, 14 fleet replenishment oilers were available for fleet operations, with 13 in full operating status and USNS Henry J. Kaiser in 30-day reduced operating status. In the Atlantic, six oilers conducted successful Mediterranean Sea deployments, providing fuel and cargo services to surface combatants in theater. Additionally, USNS Leroy Grumman deployed to the Mediterranean with the USS Enterprise carrier strike group for Exercise Summer Pulse 2004. In the Pacific Ocean, USNS Walter S. Diehl and USNS Rappahannock provided oiler support for ships passing through the southern California and middle Pacific operating areas. USNS John Ericsson continued to set the pace with another successful deployment in the Persian Gulf, operating 219 days of the year at sea. USNS Tippecanoe sailed to the Western Pacific and completed a successful Persian Gulf deployment. USNS Yukon supported the USS Kitty Hawk carrier strike group. USNS Guadalupe provided additional Western Pacific support and received a United Seamen's Service Admiral of the Ocean Sea Mariners' Plaque for rescuing 13 mariners from a stricken Taiwanese fishing vessel in June.

Ammunition Ships

Five ammunition ships were active in 2004 and efficiently provided several thousand tons of ammunition and other cargo to Navy combatants at sea. USNS Kilauea provided replenishment services for 3rd and 7th Fleets before going into 30-day reduced operating status in December 2003. USNS Shasta, USNS Flint and USNS Kiska deployed an average of 75 percent of the fiscal year in the Western Pacific delivering ammunition to 7th Fleet ships.

Fast combat support ship USNS Bridge is decked out for her ceremonial transfer from the U.S. Navy’s combatant fleet to MSC’s combat logistics fleet. Photo by Larry “E” Crutchfield.

Fast Combat Support Ships

MSC operated three fast combat support ships in 2004. USNS Arctic remained in the Western Atlantic for most of the year. USNS Rainier participated in Pacific exercises Northern Edge and RIMPAC while serving as the combat logistics ship for the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group. USNS Supply deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and then to the Persian Gulf for five months to support 5th Fleet operations. USNS Bridge transferred to the MSC fleet in June 2004, the fourth and final Supply-class ship to transition from USS to USNS status. Bridge spent the remainder of the fiscal year in the shipyard being modified for civilian mariner operation.

Combat stores ship USNS Spica conducts a vertical replenishment. Photo by PH2 Regina Wiss, USN.

Combat Stores Ships

In 2004, all six combat stores ships were actively employed delivering food, spare parts and mail to surface combatants in 5th, 6th and 7th Fleets. By the end of the year, USNS Sirius had transitioned to 30-day reduced operating status due to reduced fleet requirements. During Exercise Summer Pulse 2004, USNS Spica was called from operations in the Persian Gulf to support carrier strike groups operating in the Mediterranean Sea. USNS Niagara Falls transited from the Western Pacific operating area to cover the Atlantic-based carrier strike group operating in the Persian Gulf. This marked what is believed to be the first instance of a West Pacific MSC combat logistics force ship supporting an Atlantic carrier strike group deployed to the Persian Gulf using MSC's new global mission assignment process, a big improvement over the previously used regional approach. Finally, USNS Concord contributed to the overall success of Exercise Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism 2004 by acting as a surface target for the Singapore navy to track, board and search at sea.

A Puma helicopter hovers above combat stores ship USNS Spica’s flight deck as a pallet of supplies is secured. Photo by PHAN Lilliana LaVende, USN.

Commercial Helicopter Operations (FY 2004) Flight Hours Mission: 226.8 Training: 40.7 Flight check: 0.8 Total 268.3 Cargo External: 5,922.2 tons Internal: 14.2 tons Passengers: 243

Commercial Helicopters

A Navy diver gives a pre-diving operations safety brief aboard MSC tug USNS Sioux in support of exercise RIMPAC 2004. Photo by PH1 David A. Levy, USN.

During FY 2004, MSC's commercial helicopter detachment supported vertical replenishment requirements for 5th and 6th Fleet operations in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. The two-aircraft detachment deployed first aboard USNS Saturn, then transferred to USNS Spica and finally to USNS Sirius. The detachment transported nearly 6,000 tons of cargo and more than 200 passengers between ships during 2,655 lifts, all with no down time.

Ocean Tugs

USNS Catawba continued salvage and mine recovery operations in the Arabian Sea during FY 2004. In March, USNS Mohawk returned from a year-long deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and conducted salvage operations for a downed F-18 aircraft in the western Atlantic. USNS Apache relieved Mohawk and conducted several dive and salvage operations with Bulgarian, Romanian and Russian dive units. USNS Navajo participated in a Chief of Naval Operations-sponsored project for surface ship torpedo defense systems near Nanoose, Canada, and conducted anchor recovery operations for a U.S. Navy amphibious ship off the coast of Peru.

During a mass casualty drill aboard MSC hospital ship USNS Mercy, a casualty receiving crew team treats a patient pretending to suffer traumatic injuries. The ship’s crew participated in a “dirty bomb” scenario, part of a five-day training exercise in San Diego. Photo by PH3 Johansen Laurel, USN.

Hospital Ships

USNS Comfort, normally kept in reduced operating status in Baltimore, participated in a combined joint medical exercise with Canadian forces in August. The exercise focused on interoperability, communications, disaster management and humanitarian support for both natural catastrophes and terrorist activities. USNS Comfort also made a port visit to Newport, R.I., where Navy War College students and senior enlisted personnel toured the ship. USNS Mercy remained in five-day reduced operating status in San Diego during FY 2004, except for a short sea trial to assess upcoming overhaul requirements and demonstrate the capabilities of new medical and communications equipment. USNS Mercy also conducted underway operations with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos during the sea trial. This unusual event was Mercy's first underway replenishment since the early 1990s.

MSC fast combat support ship USNS Supply received a Department of the Navy Safety Excellence Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon. From left to right: Lt. Gen. Richard L. Kelly, USMC, deputy commandant, installations and logistics; Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, MSC commander; Capt. Terry Rycenga, master of USNS Supply; the Honorable Gordon R. England, Secretary of the Navy; and Vice Adm. John G. Morgan, USN, deputy chief of naval operations, information and plans. Photo by JOC Craig Strawser, USN.

Awards for Excellence Frederick Cullen III Cargo Officer USNS Ericsson Fleet Replenishment Oiler U.S. Navy League Captain Arthur L. Johnson Award for inspirational leadership Angel R. Ortiz Boatswain USNS Supply Fast Combat Support Ship U.S. Navy League Oscar Chappell Award for outstanding maritime stewardship USNS Pecos Fleet Replenishment Oiler MSC Surface Ship Safety Award USNS Apache Fleet Ocean Tug MSC Surface Ship Safety Award USNS Guadalupe Fleet Replenishment Oiler Capt. David M. Cook Food Service Excellence Award USNS Saturn Combat Stores Ship Capt. David M. Cook Food Service Excellence Award USNS Supply Fast Combat Support Ship Navy Safety Excellence Award

Fast combat support ship USNS Supply conducts an underway replenishment with aircraft carrier USS George Washington. MSC’s fast combat support ships provide food, fuel and ammunition to Navy ships at sea. Photo by PH2 Summer M. Anderson, USN.