Defense Technology International - September 2007 - (Page 34) TRANSPORT OCEANGOING LONG HAUL Military Sealift Command evolves for new missions DAVID AXE • SAN DIEGO A 200-ton naval engine slid off a tractor-trailer outside the National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. shipyard in San Diego on July 26, pulverizing a parked car, partially crushing another and injuring a woman. While investigators probed the accident, Nassco briefly closed the yard. But by the next day, work was again in full swing, as 4,600 employees raced to complete four Lewis and Clarkclass logistics ships, also known by their functional designation “T-AKE,” for the U.S. Military Sealift Command. Thanks to the T-AKEs, Nassco is booming. All three of the yard’s massive slipways— the last of their kind at any major Western shipyard, according to the company—cradle incomplete T-AKE hulls. T-AKE 3 Alan Shepard was handed over to Sealift Command on July 26, but remains moored at the yard for fitting-out. She should sail for her homeport in September. Hull numbers 5 and 6, the Robert E. Peary and Amelia Earhart, are scheduled to enter service in 2008, as will an as-yet-unnamed vessel—Chuck Yeager is one rumor—in 2009. The first-of-class T-AKE—USNS Lewis and Clark—entered service last year, five years after the initial production contract was let. Three more have set sail since. The $400-million, 700-ft. ships carry roughly 7,000 tons of dry cargo including munitions, 2,000 tons of refrigerated provisions, 3,000 tons of cargo fuel and 200 tons of water. Some deck space can also be used for cargo. A fully loaded ship displaces 40,000 tons, versus 20,000 tons empty. Military Sealift Command officials say that a single T-AKE can carry 6,000 tons more cargo than any two older dry stores ships. The class features replenishment stations on each side, as opposed to the traditional one-sided fit, allowing the simultaneous resupply of two warships. The Lewis and Clark class was originally intended to number a dozen vessels for underway replenishment of Navy warships, replacing 40-year-old Mars-class stores ships and Kilauea-class ammunition ships. But the design’s large size and flexibility made it an excellent choice for the forward pre-positioning mission and for emerging seabasing concepts. So this year the Navy said it wanted at least 14 of the ships: 11 for replenishment and three for pre-positioning. All 14 might also support seabases. House appropriators in July accelerated the expanded purchase, adding three Lewis and Clarks to the Navy’s 2008 shipbuild- Work is underway on T-AKE 5 Robert E. Peary. The ship is 700 ft. long and has more capacity and greater versatility than older Navy cargo vessels. 34 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2007 www.aviationweek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
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