Maritime Prepositioning Ships - T-AK
Updated: September 22, 2003
Description: The 16 Maritime Prepositioning Ships are part of Military Sealift Command's Prepositioning Program. They preposition U.S. Marine Corps vehicles, equipment and ammunition throughout the world.
Features: The MPS ships are assigned to three Maritime Prepositioning Ship squadrons located in the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia and the Western Pacific at Guam and Saipan. The MPS ships in each squadron have sufficient equipment, supplies and ammunition to support a Marine Expeditionary Brigade of about 17,000 personnel for 30 days. The MPS ships are self-sustaining, having cranes which enable them to unload their own cargo. Beginning in 2000 with the delivery of USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin, three additional ships were added to the Maritime Prepositioning Force, adding the capacity to carry expeditionary airfields, Seabee construction equipment and field hospital cargo.
Background: The Cpl. Louis J. Hauge, Jr. Class is the original class of MPS ships chartered by Military Sealift Command. The five ships are Maersk Line ships converted by Bethlehem Steel. During conversion, the ships gained an additional 157 feet amidships and a helicopter landing pad, among other things.
The Sgt. Matej Kocak Class, the second class of MPS ships chartered by MSC, also gained 157 feet amidships and a helicopter landing platform after conversion. These ships, delivered to MSC in the mid-1980s, are National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, conversion ships owned and operated by Waterman Steamship Corp.
The 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo Class ships are new construction ships delivered to MSC in the mid-1980s from General Dynamics, Quincy, Mass. They are owned and operated by American Overseas Marine.
USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin was modified in 1999 and delivered to MSC in 2000. USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham (ex-Soderman) was modified in 2000 and delivered to MSC in 2001. USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat began modifications in 1999, included a 118-foot mid-body insertion plug and was delivered to MSC in 2003.
Point of Contact:
Office of Public Affairs
Military Sealift Command
Washington, DC 20398-5540
(202) 685-5055 or www.msc.navy.mil
General Characteristics: Cpl. Louis J. Hauge, Jr. Class
Builder: Odense Staalskibsvaerft A/S, Lindo
Power Plant: 1 Sulzer 7RND76M diesel; 16,800hp; 1 shaft; bow thruster
Length: 755 feet (230.28 meters)
Beam: 90 feet (27.45 meters)
Displacement: 46,552 tons (47,296.07 metric tons) full load
Speed: 17.5 knots (20.14 mph)
Ships:
MV Cpl. Louis J. Hauge, Jr. (ex-MV Estelle Maersk) (T-AK 3000)
MV PFC William B. Baugh (ex-MV Eleo Maersk) (T-AK 3001)
MV PFC James Anderson, Jr. (ex-MV Emma Maersk) (T-AK 3002)
MV 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman (ex-MV Emilie Maersk) (T-AK 3003)
MV Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips (ex-Pvt. Harry Fisher, ex-MV Evelyn Maersk) (T-AK 3004)
Crew: 32 civilians, 10 technicians
General Characteristics: Sgt. Matej Kocak Class
Builder: Pennsylvania SB Company, Chester, Pa.
Power Plant: 2 boilers; 2 GE turbines; 30,000 hp; 1 shaft
Length: 821 feet (250.41 meters)
Beam: 105.6 feet (32.21 meters)
Displacement: 48,754 tons(49,534.06 metric tons) full load
Cargo capacity: Containers, 532; ro-ro, 152,236 square feet; JP-5 bbls, 20,290; DF-2 bbls, 12,355; Mogas bbls, 3,717; stable water, 2,189; cranes, 2 twin 50 ton and 1-30 ton gantry
Helicopters: platform only
Speed: 20 knots (23.02 mph)
Ships:
MV Sgt. Matej Kocak (Ex-SS John B. Waterman) (T-AK 3005)
MV PFC Eugene A. Obregon (ex-SS Thomas Heywood) (T-AK 3006)
MV Maj. Stephen W. Pless (ex-SS Charles Carroll) (T-AK 3007)
Crew: 34 civilians, 10 technicians
General Characteristics: 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo Class
Builders: General Dynamics, Quincy
Power Plant: 2 Stork-Wartsilia Werkspoor 16TM410 diesels; 27,000 hp sustained; 1 shaft, bow thruster; 1,000 hp
Length: 675.2 feet (205.94 meters)
Beam: 105.5 feet (32.18 meters)
Displacement: 44,330 tons (45,039.28 metric tons) full load
Cargo capacity: Containers, 530; ro-ro, 152,185 square feet; JP-5 bbles, 20,776; DF-2 bbls, 13,334; Mogas bbls, 4,880; stable water, 2,357; cranes, 1 single and 2 twin 39 ton
Helicopters: platform only
Speed: 18 knots (20.71 mph)
Ships:
MV 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008)
MV PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK 3009)
MV 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez (T-AK 3010)
MV 1st Lt. Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011)
MV Sgt. William R. Button (T-AK 3012)
Crew: 38 civilians, 10 technicians
General Characteristics: 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin Class
Builder: Bremer Vulkan shipyard, Bremen Germany
Power Plant: 1 two-stroke Burmeister & Wain type K7SZ90/160 BL; Max 21,000 hp; 1 shaft; bow and stern thrusters
Length: 754 feet (229.97 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (32.33 meters)
Displacement: 33,600 long tons (34,137.6 metric tons) on 36'0" summer salt water draft
Speed: 18 knots (20.71 mph)
Ships:
USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin (T-AK 3015)
Crew: 27 civilians, 12 military technicians
General Characteristics: Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham Class
Builder: Odsene Shipyard, Denmark
Power Plant: 1 two-stroke Burmeister & Wain low-speed Diesel; 12L90GFCA; 12 cylinder; 46,653 bhp @ 97 rpm; 1 shaft; bow thruster.
Length: 907 feet (276.64 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (32.33 meters)
Displacement: 55,123 long tons (56,004.97 metric tons) full load
Speed: 24 knots (27.62 mph)
Ships:
USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham (T-AK 3017)
Crew: 28 civilians, 12 military technicians
General Characteristics: Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat Class
Builder: Chernomorskiy Sudostroitelniy Zavol; Nikolayev, Ukraine
Power Plant: COGAS (turbines), 2GTE DT59 Zorya, 2 shafts; bow and stern thrusters
Length: 864 feet (263.52 meters)
Beam: 99 feet (30.20 meters)
Displacement: 50,570 long tons (51,379.12 metric tons) full load
Speed: 20 knots (23.02 mph)
Ships:
USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016)
Crew: 31 civilians, 12 military technicians
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