:USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{short description|LCPL Roy M. Wheat-class dry cargo ship}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:USNS LCPL ROY M. WHEAT (T-AK 3016).jpg | Ship caption = USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = United States | Ship flag = {{Shipboxflag|United States}} | Ship name = *LCPL Roy M. Wheat | Ship namesake = Roy M. Wheat | Ship owner = *Black Sea Shipping Co. (1987–1997)
| Ship ordered = | Ship builder = Chernomorski Shipyard | Ship original cost = | Ship way number = | Ship yard number = | Ship laid down = 1 July 1983 | Ship launched = | Ship sponsor = | Ship completed = | Ship acquired = | Ship commissioned = | Ship in service = 15 August 1987 | Ship out of service = 30 December 2021 | Ship renamed = *GTS Vladimir Vaslyayev (1987-1996)
| Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = 30 December 2021 | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = | Ship identification = *{{IMO|8523137}}
| Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship honours = See Awards | Ship fate = Inactivated as part of the James River Reserve Fleet | Ship status = Stricken | Ship notes = | Ship badge = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = LCPL Roy M. Wheat-class cargo ship | Ship displacement = *{{convert|15,804|t|LT|0|abbr=on}}, light
| Ship length = {{convert|864|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|98|ft|05|in|m|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draft = {{convert|34|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship propulsion = 2 × CPGAS turbine engines | Ship power = *2 × shafts
| Ship speed = {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = {{convert|1600|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} | Ship complement = 39 mariners | Ship capacity = *114,924 sq. ft. vehicle | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = Helipad }} |
USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK-3016), the only ship of its class, is a cargo ship built in 1987.{{Cite web|date=7 October 2003|title=USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT (T-AK 3016)|url=https://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVR/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_AK_3016_5528.HTML|access-date=12 February 2022|website=Naval Vessel Register}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} She became one of the only Soviet ships to enter United States service.{{Cite web|last=Rozin|first=Igor|date=2020-08-11|title=What's known about this Soviet ship on US service|url=https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/332561-whats-known-about-soviet-ship-on-us-navy-service|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.rbth.com|language=en-US}} The ship is named after Lance Corporal Roy M. Wheat, an American Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor during Vietnam War.{{Cite web|title=The namesake of "America's Soviet Ship"|url=https://www.legion.org/stories/community-memorials-monuments/namesake-americas-soviet-ship|access-date=2022-02-12|website=The American Legion|language=en}}
Construction and commissioning
The ship was built in 1987 at the Chernomorski Shipyard, Nikolaiev, Mykolaiv Oblast.{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2020-04-30|title=Naval Ships – USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT T-AK 3016|url=https://maltashipnews.com/2020/04/30/naval-ships-usns-lcpl-roy-m-wheat-t-ak-3016/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Malta Movements - Transportation|language=en-US}} She was put into the service of Black Sea Shipping Company.{{Cite web|title=Cargo Ship Photo Index|url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/133016.htm|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.navsource.org}}
In 1997, the ship was purchased by the Military Sealift Command and following conversion was placed in Prepositioning Program and the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 on 7 October 2003. The conversion process included a 118 ft midbody hull extension, the installation of two cargo cranes, installation of fore and aft garages, strengthening and increasing the length of the stern ramp, a stern helicopter deck, conversion of the electrical system from 50 hz to 60 hz, the replacement of the ship's generator and electrical switching gear replacement, new Vosper-Thornycroft machinery control systems, new and larger accommodations, and climate control systems for the cargo holds.{{citation |title=CONVERSION OF THE USNS LCPL ROY M. WHEAT (T-AK 3016) By Charles D. Wasson and D. P. "Dwayne" Nutting, Presented to The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Hampton Roads Section |date=4 October 2001}} The Navy awarded the contract in the amount of $150 million to Ocean Marine Navigation Company.{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2020-04-30|title=Naval Ships – USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT T-AK 3016|url=https://maltashipnews.com/2020/04/30/naval-ships-usns-lcpl-roy-m-wheat-t-ak-3016/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Malta Movements - Transportation|language=en-US}}
On 1 August 2002, Roy M. Wheat was moored at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Corporation Shipyard, Portsmouth.{{Cite web|date=2002-08-01|title=Port bow side view of the US Navy (USN) Military Sealift Command (MSC) Maritime Preposition Ship USNS LCPL ROY M. WHEAT (T-AK 3016) moored to the pier at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA)|url=https://nara.getarchive.net/media/port-bow-side-view-of-the-us-navy-usn-military-sealift-command-msc-maritime-25a98b|access-date=2022-02-12|website=The U.S. National Archives|language=en}} Sailors from the ship set up the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) causeway ferries, off Liberia on 21 March 2008.{{Cite web|last=staff|first=Defense Industry Daily|title=Whatever Floats Your Tank: the USNs Improved Navy Lighterage System|url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/whatever-floats-your-tank-the-usns-improved-navy-lighterage-system-02251/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Defense Industry Daily}}
From 1 October 2012, Roy M. Wheat alongside ships of the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 would be transferred to the Military Sealift Command Surge Sealift due to the disestablishing of the squadron on 28 September.{{Cite web|date=2012-09-28|title=MSC's Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One Disestablished|url=https://www.marinelink.com/news/prepositioning-squadron348052|access-date=2022-02-12|website=MarineLink|language=en}}
Crowley Government Services Inc. was awarded $14,513,105 to maintain USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK-3005), USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK-3006), USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK-3007) and LCPL Roy. M. Wheat on 29 September 2020.{{Cite web|last=Keller|first=Katie|date=2020-09-29|title=Palantir Awarded $91 Million Contract R&D for the US Army Research Laboratory|url=https://news.clearancejobs.com/2020/09/29/palantir-awarded-91-million-contract-rd-for-the-us-army-research-laboratory/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=ClearanceJobs}}
End of service
LCPL Roy M. Wheat left service and was stricken on 30 December 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_AK_3016.HTML |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025035332/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_AK_3016.HTML |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2016 |title=Naval Vessel Register LCPL ROY M WHEAT (AK 3016) |author= |date=13 June 2022 |website=Naval Vessel Register |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=20 December 2022}} As of January 31, 2022, the vessel was assigned to the James River Reserve Fleet at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, and was slated for disposal.{{cite web |url=https://www.maritime.dot.gov/sites/marad.dot.gov/files/2022-03/2022_01%20Public%20NDRF%20Inventory_0.pdf |title=U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory For the Month Ending January 31, 2022 |author= |date=1 February 2022 |website=U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration |access-date=20 December 2022}}