Strategic sealift ships

PFC William B. Baugh, docked in Port Canaveral, Florida in 2008.

USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams, USNS Dahl, and USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless anchored off the coast of Saipan in June 2011

Strategic sealift ships are part of the United States Military Sealift Command's (MSC) prepositioning program. There are currently 49 ships in the program, strategically positioned around the globe to support the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency. Most are named after Medal of Honor recipients from the service they support. The ships are assigned to two Military Prepositioning Ship (MPS) squadrons located in the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia and the Western Pacific Ocean at Guam and Saipan. The MPS ships in each squadron have sufficient equipment, supplies and ammunition to support a Marine Air-Ground Task Force for 30 days. The MPS ships are self-sustaining, with cranes to unload at sea or pierside. MSC chartered the first two ship classes in the MPS role (the Corporal Louis J. Hauge Jr. and Sergeant Matej Kocak classes) from civilian shipping lines and converted them. Later ships were purpose-built.

Ships

Sergeant Matej Kocak class

PFC. Eugene A. Obregon

The Sergeant Matej Kocak Class, the second class of MPS ships chartered by MSC, also gained 157 feet (48 m) amidships and a helicopter deck after conversion. These ships, delivered to MSC in the mid-1980s, built at Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania and converted at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego. They were previously owned by Waterman Steamship Corporation but recently sold to MSC and now operated by Keystone Shipping Co.

• Builder: Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, PA; General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, MA
• Converted: National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, CA
• Power Plant: 2 boilers; 2 GE turbines; 30,000 hp (22 MW); 1 shaft
• Length: 821 feet (250.2 m)
• Beam: 105.6 feet (32.2 m)
• Displacement: 48,754 tons (49,536 metric tons) full load
• Cargo capacity: Containers, 532; ro-ro, 152,236 ft² (14,143 m²); JP-5 barrels, 20,290; DF-2 barrels, 12,355; Mogas barrels, 3,717; stable water, 2,189; cranes, 2 twin 50 ton and 1-30 ton gantry
• Helicopters: platform only
• Speed: 20 knots
• Ships:
  • USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK 3005) (formerly SS Sgt. Matej Kocak, SS John B. Waterman)
  • USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK 3006) (formerly SS PFC Eugene A. Obregon, SS Thomas Heywood)
  • USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK 3007) (formerly SS Maj. Stephen W. Pless, SS Charles Carroll)
• Crew: 34 civilians, 10 technicians

2nd Lieutenant John P. Bobo class

The 2nd Lieutenant John P. Bobo class ships are new construction ships delivered to MSC in the mid-1980s from General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Mass. They were owned by American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) but have been recently sold to MSC and are now operated by Crowley Technical Management.

• Builders: General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, MA
• Power Plant: 2 Stork-Werkspoor 16TM410 diesels; 27,000 hp (20 MW) sustained; 1 Omnithruster JT1000 bow thruster 1,000 hp (750 kW)
• Length: 675.2 feet (205.8 m)
• Beam: 105.5 feet (32.2 m)
• Displacement: 44,330 tons (45,041 metric tons) full load
• Cargo capacity: Containers, 530; ro-ro, 152,185 ft² (14,138 m²); JP-5 barrels, 20,776; DF-2 barrels, 13,334; Mogas barrels, 4,880; stable water, 2,357; cranes, 1 single and 2 twin 39 ton
• Helicopters: platform only
• Speed: 18 knots
• Ships:
  • USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008) (formerly MV 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo)
  • USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK-3009) (formerly MV PFC Dewayne T. Williams)
  • USNS 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez (T-AK 3010) (formerly MV 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez)
  • USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011) (formerly MV 1st Lt. Jack Lummus)
  • USNS Sgt. William R. Button (T-AK 3012) (formerly MV Sgt. William R. Button)
• Crew: 38 civilians, 10 technicians

Capt Steven L. Bennett class

• Length: 687 feet (209 m)
• Beam: 100 feet (30 m)
• Draft: 38 feet, 1 inch
• Displacement: 52,878 long tons
• Speed: 18.3 knots
• Civilian: 24 contract mariners
  • MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett (T-AK-4296)

SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. class

• Length: 949.8 feet (289.5 m)
• Beam: 105.9 feet (32.3 m)
• Draft: 35 feet (11 m)
• Displacement: 74,500 long tons
• Speed: 18 knots
• Civilian: 22 contract mariners
  • MV SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. (T-AK 4544)

Buffalo Soldier class

• Length: 670 feet (200 m)
• Beam: 87 feet (27 m)
• Draft: 34 feet (10 m), six inches
• Displacement: 26,378 long tons
• Speed: 16 knots
• Civilian: 21 contract mariners
  • MV TSgt John A. Chapman (T-AK 323)

Maj. Bernard F. Fisher class

• Length: 652 feet (199 m)
• Beam: 105 feet (32 m)
• Draft: 34 feet (10 m)
• Displacement: 48,000 long tons
• Speed: 19.0 knots
• Civilian: 24 contract mariners
  • MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (T-AK-4396)

1st Lt. Harry L. Martin class

• Length: 754 feet (230 m)
• Beam: 105 feet, 10 inches
• Draft: 35 feet, 11 inches
• Displacement: 51,531 long tons
• Speed: 17 knots
• Civilian: 25 contract mariners
  • USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin (T-AK 3015)

LCPL Roy M. Wheat class

• Length: 863 feet 2 inches
• Beam: 98 feet 5 inches
• Draft: 35 feet (11 m)
• Displacement: 50,570 long tons
• Speed: 20.5 knots
• Civilian: 29 contract mariners
  • USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016)

LTC John U. D. Page class

• Length: 949.8 feet (289.5 m)
• Beam: 105.9 feet (32.3 m)
• Draft: 35 feet (11 m)
• Displacement: 74,500 long tons
• Speed: 18 knots
• Civilian: 20 contract mariners
  • MV LTC John U. D. Page (T-AK 4543)

High-speed vessels

HSV 2 class

• Length: 331 feet 4 inches
• Beam: 87 feet 5 inches
• Draft: 11 feet (3.4 m)
• Displacement: 1,463.6 short tons
• Speed: 35 knots
• Civilian: 17 contract mariners
• Military: as required by mission
  • HSV-2 Swift

Westpac Express class

• Length: 331 feet (101 m)
• Beam: 87 feet (27 m)
• Draft: 14 feet (4.3 m)
• Displacement: NOTE: 32,000 square feet (3,000 m²) of cargo capacity, designed for roll-on/roll-off
• Speed: 33 knots
• Civilian: 14 contract mariners
  • MV Westpac Express (HSV-4676)

Large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships

Watson class

The Watson-class of LMSR built at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego

• Length: 950 feet (290 m)
• Beam: 106 feet (32 m)
• Draft: 34 feet (10 m)
• Displacement: 62,644 long tons
• Power Plant: 2 GE Marine LM 2500 gas turbines; 64,000 hp (7.7 MW); 2 shafts, cp props
• Speed: 24.0 knots
• Civilian: 30 contract mariners
• Military: 5
  • USNS Watson (T-AKR-310)
  • USNS Sisler (T-AKR-311)
  • USNS Dahl (T-AKR-312)
  • USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR-313)
  • USNS Charlton (T-AKR-314)
  • USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315)
  • USNS Pomeroy (T-AKR-316)
  • USNS Soderman (T-AKR-317)

Tankers

• Length: 615 feet (187 m)
• Beam: 90 feet (27 m)
• Draft: 36 feet (11 m)
• Displacement: 39,624 long tons
• Speed: 16.0 knots
• Civilian: 24 contract mariners
  • USNS Lawrence H. Gianella (T-AOT-1125)

Offshore petroleum distribution system

• Length: 348.5 feet (106.2 m)
• Beam: 70 feet (21 m)
• Draft: 26.0 feet (7.9 m)
• Displacement:
• Speed: 15 knots
• Civilian: 26 contract mariners
  • USNS VADM K. R. Wheeler (T-AG 5001)

Activated Ready Reserve Force ships

The following are part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet but have been activated and are pre-positioned.

Modular cargo delivery system ship

• Length: 565 feet (172 m)
• Beam: 76 feet (23 m)
• Draft: 31 feet (9.4 m)
• Displacement: 22,929 long tons
• Speed: 17.0 knots
• Civilian: 38 contract mariners
  • SS Cape Jacob (T-AK 5029)

Wright class

Dedicated to USMC aviation logistics support.

• Length: 602 feet (183 m)
• Beam: 90 feet, 2 inches
• Draft: 32 feet, 10 inches
• Displacement: 23,800 long tons
• Speed: 19 knots
• Civilian: 41 contract mariners
  • SS Wright (T-AVB-3)
  • SS Curtiss (T-AVB-4)

Former ships

Corporal Louis J. Hauge Jr. class

Named for Medal of Honor recipient Louis J. Hauge Jr. USMC, the Corporal 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 (48 m) amidships and a helicopter landing pad, among other things. They have since been returned to Maersk for commercial use and are no longer part of the MPS program.

• Builder: Odense Staalskibsvaerft A/S, Lindo
• Power Plant: 1 Sulzer 7RND76M diesel; 16,800 hp (13 MW); 1 shaft; bow thruster
• Length: 755 feet (230 m)
• Beam: 90 feet (27.4 m)
• Displacement: 46,552 tons (47,299 t) full load
• Speed: 17.5 knots (32 km/h)
• Ships:
  • MV Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr. (T-AK 3000) (formerly MV Estelle Maersk)
  • MV PFC William B. Baugh (T-AK-3001) (formerly MV Eleo Maersk)
  • MV PFC James Anderson Jr. (T-AK 3002) (formerly MV Emma Maersk)
  • MV 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman (T-AK 3003) (formerly MV Emilie Maersk)
  • MV Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips (T-AK 3004) (formerly Pvt. Harry Fisher, MV Evelyn Maersk)
• Crew: 32 civilians, 10 technicians

See also

• MV Buffalo Soldier
• MV Strong Virginian

Further reading

• 'The Maritime Prepositioning Force and the U.S. Marines,' Asia-Pacific Defense Forum, Spring 1999
• Military Sealift Command. "Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two". http://www.msc.navy.mil/mpstwo/. Retrieved 17 January 2010. "MPS Squadron Two ships operate out of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory."