Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships - T-AKE

Description: The dry cargo/ammunition ships are operated by the Navy's Military Sealift Command and provide multi-product combat logistics support to the Navy fleet. USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1), the class lead ship, is a new Combat Logistics Force (CLF) underway replenishment vessel intended to replace the current capability of the Kilauea-class (T-AE 26) ammunition ships and Mars-class (T-AFS 1) combat stores ships. With the retirement of the Sacramento-class (AOE 1) fast combat support ships, the T-AKEs may also operate as battle group station ships when accompanied by a Henry J. Kaiser-class (T-AO 187) oiler. The T-AKE program calls for up to 14 ships and has a budget of more than $6 billion. The T-AKE acquisition program resides within the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships - Support Ships Boats and Craft Program Office (PEO Ships/PMS325).

Features: As an auxiliary support ship, T-AKEs directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence. In its primary mission role, the T-AKE provides logistic lift to deliver cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material) to U.S. and allied Navy ships at sea. , In its secondary mission, the T-AKE may operate in concert with a Henry J. Kaiser-Class (T-AO 187) oiler as a substitute station ship to provide direct logistics support to the ships within a Carrier Battle Group.

Background: The primary goal of the T-AKE program is to provide effective fleet underway replenishment capability at the lowest life cycle cost. To meet that goal, the ship will be designed and constructed to commercial specifications & standards and certified/classed by the American Bureau of Shipping, United States Coast Guard, and other regulatory bodies. All of the T-AKEs ships will be operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. The ships are built in San Diego by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. USNS Lewis and Clark delivered to MSC June 20, 2006. USNS Sacagawea delivered Feb. 27, 2007. USNS Alan Shepard delivered June 20, 2007. USNS Richard E. Byrd delivered Nov. 14, 2007. USNS Carl Brashear delivered March 4, 2009, and USNS Wally Schirra delivered Sept. 1, the same year. USNS Matthew Perry delivered Feb. 24, 2010. The remaining ships will deliver over the next several years.

General Characteristics, Lewis and Clark Class

Length: 689 feet (210 meters).
Beam: 106 feet (32.31 meters).
Displacement: 40,539 long ton (41,187.62 metric tons) full load.
Draft: 29.9 feet (9.12 meters).
Speed: 20 knots (23 mph).
Range: 14,000 nautical miles @ 20 knots.
Load: Max Dry Cargo Volume: 886,963 cubic feet
          Max Cargo Fuel Volume: 24,959 barrels.
Ships:
   USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3)
   USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4)
   USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5)
   USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6)
   USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7)
   USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8)
   USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9)
   USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10)
   USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11)
   USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12)
   USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13)
   USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14)

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