Description: High-speed vessel, designed as oiler, ammunition and supply ship.
Features: The fast combat support ship (AOE) has the speed to keep
up with the carrier battle 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 battle 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. Supply was decommissioned
on 13 July 2001 and was transferred to Military Sealift Command where she was
placed back in service as a "United States Naval Ship." Her sister ship Arctic
(AOE 8) was transferred to MSC in June 2002, and Rainier (AOE 7) transferred
in August 2003. USNS Bridge (AOE 10) transferred to MSC in June 2004.
Supply-class 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:
Office of Public Affairs
Military Sealift Command
Washington, DC 20398-5540
(202) 685-5055 or www.msc.navy.mil