The future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) was handed over at a shipboard service at NASSCO’s San Diego shipyard. [Photo (c) GD NASSCO]
GD NASSCO delivered the longer term USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), the second ship within the Navy’s 20-ship John Lewis-class fleet oiler program, throughout a July 11 ceremony at its San Diego shipyard.
The 742-foot-long oilers are designed to switch gas to U.S. Navy provider strike group ships working at sea and have the capability to hold 157,000 barrels of oil, a big dry cargo capability, aviation functionality and as much as a velocity of 20 knots.
The supply of T-AO 206 follows the profitable completion of acceptance trials with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey to check the readiness and functionality of the ship and to validate necessities.
“We are excited to deliver the 2nd of class T-AO, USNS Harvey Milk, and expand the Navy’s capacity and capability to provide a fuel pipeline at sea,” mentioned John Lighthammer, program supervisor, on the Navy’s Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office. “The fleet and her sailors will benefit from enhanced at-sea operations.”
T-AO 206, the second ship of the 20-ship class, will probably be operated by Military Sealift Command. The ship gives diesel gas, lubricating oil and jet gas; small portions of contemporary and frozen provisions and dry shops; and potable water to Navy ships at sea. T-AOs add underway replenishment capability to the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and can grow to be the cornerstone of the gas supply system.
General Dynamics NASSCO is at present establishing USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207) and the longer term USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208), USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209) and USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210).
The future USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211) and USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), and but to be named T-AO 213 are beneath contract.
