Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships - T-AKE

Description: The T-AKE is a new Combat Logistics Force (CLF) Underway Replenishment Naval vessel that will replace the current capability of the Kilauea-class (T-AE 26) ammunition ship, Mars-class (T-AFS 1) and Sirius-class (T-AFS 8) combat stores ships, and when operating in concert with a Henry J. Kaiser-class (T-AO 187) oiler, the T-AKE will replace the Sacramento-class (AOE 1) fast combat support ship. The T-AKE Program will consist of 11 ships with a budget of approximately $4 billion.

Features: As an auxiliary support ship, the T-AKE will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence. The T-AKE's primary mission will be delivering supplies to Navy ships from sources of supply like friendly ports, or from sea using specially equipped merchant ships. The T-AKE will transfer cargo -- ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items and expendable supplies -- at sea to station ships and other naval warfare forces. In its secondary mission, the T-AKE may be required to operate in concert with a Henry J. Kaiser-class (T-AO 187) oiler as a substitute on-station ship, providing direct logistic support to ships within a single carrier strike group.

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 is being built to commercial specifications and standards and will be certified/classed by the American Bureau of Shipping, the United States Coast Guard and other regulatory bodies. The ships will be operated by Military Sealift Command with civilian mariners crews (123 personnel) augmented by a military department (49 personnel).

Background: The Navy awarded National Steel and Shipbuilding Company of San Diego, Calif., a $406.9 million competitive contract Oct. 18, 2001, to build the first ship of the class, USNS Lewis and Clark. The Navy also exercised a $301.6 million dollar option in the contract for the construction of the second ship of the class, USNS Sacagawea. The first ship is scheduled to deliver to MSC in 2007. In July 2002, the Navy exercised the contract option to begin construction of a third ship, USNS Alan Shepard.

Point of contact:
   NAVSEA Public Affairs
   Naval Sea Systems Command
   2531 Jefferson Davis Hwy
   Arlington, DC 22242-5160
   1-877-4-1-TOUCH or 1-877-418-6824
   www.navsea.navy.mil

Concept Dimensions

Length: 689 feet (210 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (32.31 meters)
Draft: 29.5 feet (8.99 meters)
Main machinery: Integrated propulsion and ship service electrical system, with generation at 6.6KV by FM/MAN B&W diesel generators; one fixed pitch propeller; bow thruster.
Full Load Displacement: 35,400 long tons (359,681 metric tons)
Speed: 20 knots (23 mph)
Range: 14,000 nautical miles at 20 knots
Max Dry Cargo Weight: 5,910 long tons (6,004.84 metric tons)
Max Dry Cargo Area: 783,000 square feet
Max Cargo Fuel Weight: 2,350 long tons (2,387.71 metric tons)
Cargo Fuel Volume: 18,000 barrels (DFM: 10,500) (JP5:7,500)
Ships:
   USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1)
   USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2)
   USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3)

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