Fast Combat Support Ships - T-AOE

Description: High-speed vessel, designed as oiler, ammunition and supply ship.

Features: The fast combat support ship (T-AOE) is Military Sealift Command's largest combat logistics ship. The AOE has the speed to keep up with the carrier strike groups. It rapidly replenishes Navy task forces and can carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil; 2,150 tons of ammunition; 500 tons of dry stores; and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. It receives petroleum products, ammunition and stores from shuttle ships and redistributes these items simultaneously to carrier strike group ships. This reduces the vulnerability of serviced ships by reducing alongside time. Congress appropriated the funds for the lead ship of the AOE 6 (Supply class) in 1987. Four Supply-class ships were transferred from 2001 to 2004.

Fast combat support ships are part of MSC's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force. The Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force began in 1972 with the transfer of the fleet oiler Taluga to MSC after a series of tests showed civilian crews could operate the Navy's fleet support ships more efficiently than Navy sailors. The impressive cost savings resulting from the use of MSC civilian crews continues to grow each year as Military Sealift Command assumes more of the Navy's combat logistics role.

Point of contact:
   Public Affairs Office
   Military Sealift Command
   914 Charles Morris Court SE
   Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 20398-5540
   (202) 685-5055 or www.msc.navy.mil

General Characteristics: Supply Class
Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Ca.
Power Plant: Four GE LM2500 gas-turbines; 2 shafts; 105,000 hp
Length: 754 feet (229.9 meters)
Beam: 107 feet (32.6 meters)
Displacement: 48,800 tons (49,583.15 metric tons) full load
Speed: 25 knots
Aircraft: Three CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters
Ships:
   USNS Supply (T-AOE 6), Naval Weapons Station Earle, N.J.
   USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7), Bremerton, WA
   USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Naval Weapons Station Earle, N.J.
   USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10), Bremerton, WA
Crew: 160 civilians, 59 military

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