USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1)

Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships - T-AKE

Description:
One dry cargo/ammunition ship operated by Military Sealift Command provides multi-product combat logistics support to the Navy fleet. USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1), the class lead ship, is a new Combat Logistics Force (CLF) underway replenishment vessel intended to replace the current capability of the Kilauea-class (T-AE 26) Ammunition Ship, Mars-class (T-AFS 1) Combat Stores Ships, and when operating in concert with a Henry J. Kaiser-class (T-AO 187) Oiler ship, the Sacramento-class (AOE 1) Fast Combat Support Ship. The T-AKE Program calls for up to 12 ships and has a budget of approximately $4B.

Features:
As an auxiliary support ship, T-AKE will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence. In its primary mission role, the T-AKE will provide logistic lift from sources of supply such as friendly ports, or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships by consolidation, and will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material) 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 station ship to provide direct logistics support to the ships within a Carrier Battle Group.

Background:
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 will be designed and constructed to commercial specifications & standards and certified/classed by the American Bureau of Shipping, United States Coast Guard, and other regulatory bodies. All of the new ships will be operated by the Military Sealift Command. They are being built in San Diego by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. USNS Lewis and Clark delivered to MSC 15 June 2006. The remaining ships will deliver over the next several years.

General Characteristics, Lewis and Clark Class

Length: 689 feet (210 meters).
Beam: 106 feet (32.31 meters).
Displacement: 40,539 long ton (41,187.62 metric tons) full load.
Draft: 29.5 feet (8.99 meters).
Speed: 20 knots (23 mph).
Range: 14,000 nautical miles @ 20 knots.
Load: Max Dry Cargo Volume: 1,388,000 cubic feet
Max Cargo Fuel Volume: 26,000 barrels.

Photo courtesy of U.S.N.

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