The United States Navy

Auxiliary Crane Ships T-ACS

Last updated: May 25, 1999

Description: The auxiliary crane ships are Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force ships that can be quickly available to support military sea transportation needs. These self-sustaining ships are useful in ports that have limited, damaged or undeveloped port facilities.

Features: The auxiliary crane ships are converted container ships with three twin boom pedestal cranes which can lift containers or other cargo from themselves or adjacent vessels and deposit the cargo on a pier or lighterage.

Background: The ten Keystone State Class ships are conversion crane ships the first of which was completed in 1984 and the last of which was completed in 1997. Five of the ships were deployed to the Arabian Gulf in 1990-91. USNS Gopher State acted as a temporary Army prepositioning ship in 1994.

Point of Contact:
Office of Public Affairs
Military Sealift Command
Washington, DC 20398-5540
(202) 685-5055 or www.msc.navy.mil

General Characteristics: Keystone State Class

Builders: Defoe SB Co, Bay City; Dillingham SR, Portland; Norshipco, Norfolk; Tampa SY; Keith Ship Repair, New Orleans
Power Plant: 2 boilers; 2 GE turbines; 19,250 hp; 1 shaft
Length: 668.6 feet
Beam: 76.1 feet
Displacement: 31,500 tons(32,005.52 metric tons) full load
Cargo capacity: 300+ standard containers
Speed: 20 knots
Ship:
USNS Keystone State (ex-SS President Harrison) (T-ACS 1)
USNS Gem State (ex-SS President Monroe) (T-ACS 2)
USNS Grand Canyon State (ex-SS President Polk) (T-ACS 3)
USNS Gopher State (ex-Export Leader) (T-ACS 4)
USNS Flickertail State (ex-Export Lightening) (T-ACS 5)
USNS Cornhusker State (ex-Staghound) (T-ACS 6)
USNS Diamond State (ex-President Truman) (T-ACS 7)
USNS Equality State (ex-American Banker) (T-ACS 8)
USNS Green Mountain State (ex-American Altair) (T-ACS 9)
USNS Beaver State (ex-American Draco) (T-ACS 10)
Crew: 89 civilians

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