Strategic sealift ships
{{Short description|United States military ship category}}File:PFC William B Baugh (ship).jpg, Florida, in 2008]]{{Use American English|date=January 2019}}File:Saipan 2011 362.jpg in June 2011]]
Strategic sealift ships are part of the United States Military Sealift Command's (MSC) prepositioning program. There are currently 17{{cite web| url = https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/Ships/Prepositioning-PM3/| title = Prepositioning (PM3)}} ships in the program, strategically positioned around the world 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.{{cite web|publisher=United States Navy Military Sealift Command|title=Military Sealift Command Ship Inventorydate=|access-date=2012-03-02|url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/inventory.asp?var=PM3|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212031705/http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/inventory.asp?var=PM3|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 December 2012}}{{cite journal|publisher=National Defense University|location=Washington, D.C.|title=Army Prepositioning Afloat|journal=Joint Force Quarterly|date=Spring 1994|access-date=2012-03-02|first1=BGen Robert A. |last1=Chilcoat|first2=Maj David S. |last2=Henderson|pages=51–57|url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/jfq1004.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011116115041/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/jfq_pubs/jfq1004.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 November 2001}}{{cite web|access-date=2012-03-02|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/aps-3.htm|work=GlobalSecurity.org|title=Army Prepositioned Stock (APS-3)}} The ships are assigned to two{{cite web |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2012/November/mpsronone.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223213848/http://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2012/November/mpsronone.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2013 |title=MPSRON ONE is disestablished |publisher=United States Navy's Military Sealift Command |date=November 2012 |access-date=26 April 2018}} Military Prepositioning Ship (MPS) squadrons{{cite web |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/pm3/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124104700/http://www.msc.navy.mil/PM3/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2001 |title=Prepositioning (PM3) |publisher=United States Navy's Military Sealift Command |access-date=26 April 2018}} located in the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia and in 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=
The Sergeant Matej Kocak class, the second class of MPS ships chartered by MSC, also gained {{convert|157|ft|m|0}} 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 Company. They were all part of the Waterman Line C7-S-133a Series.
- Builder: Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, PA; General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Massachusetts
- Converted: National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, California
- Power Plant: 2 boilers; 2 GE turbines; {{convert|30,000|hp|abbr=on|0}}; 1 shaft
- Length: {{convert|821.0|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|105.6|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: 48,754 tons (49,536 metric tons) full load
- Crew: 34 civilians, 10 technicians
- Cargo capacity: Containers, 532; ro-ro, {{convert|152,236|ft2|m2|abbr=on|0}}; JP-5 barrels, 20,290; DF-2 barrels, 12,355; Mogas barrels, 3,717; stable water, 2,189; cranes, two twin 50-ton and one 30-ton gantry
- Helicopters: platform only
- Speed: {{convert|20|kn|lk=in|kph|0}}
;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)
=''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, Massachusetts 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, Massachusetts
- Power Plant: 2 Stork-Werkspoor 16TM410 diesels; {{convert|27,000|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} sustained; 1 Omnithruster JT1000 bow thruster, {{convert|1000|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}}
- Length: {{convert|675.2|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|105.5|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: 44,330 tons (45,041 metric tons) full load
- Cargo capacity: Containers, 530; ro-ro, {{convert|152,185|ft2|m2|abbr=on|0}}; JP-5 barrels, 20,776; DF-2 barrels, 13,334; Mogas barrels, 4,880; stable water, 2,357; cranes, one single and two twin 39-ton
- Helicopters: platform only
- Speed: {{convert|17.7|kn|kph|0}}
- Crew: 38 civilians, 10 technicians
- {{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)
=''Capt Steven L. Bennett'' class=
- Length: {{convert|687|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|100|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Draft: {{convert|38|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: {{convert|52,878|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|18.3|kn|kph|1}}
- Civilian: 24 contract mariners
- {{MV|Capt. Steven L. Bennett|T-AK-4296}}
=''Maj. Bernard F. Fisher'' class=
- Length: {{convert|652|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Beam: {{convert|105|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Draft: {{convert|34|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Displacement: {{convert|48,000|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|19|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 24 contract mariners
- {{MV|Maj. Bernard F. Fisher|T-AK-4396}}
=''1st Lt. Harry L. Martin'' class=
- Length: {{convert|754|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|105|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Draft: {{convert|35|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: {{convert|51,531|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|17|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 25 contract mariners
- {{USNS|1st Lt. Harry L. Martin|T-AK-3015}}
=''LCPL Roy M. Wheat'' class=
- Length: {{convert|863|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|98|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Draft: {{convert|35|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: {{convert|50,570|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|20.5|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 29 contract mariners
- {{USNS|LCPL Roy M. Wheat|T-AK-3016}}
=''LTC John U. D. Page'' class=
- Length: {{convert|949.8|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|105.9|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Draft: {{convert|35.0|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: {{convert|74,500|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|18|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 20 contract mariners
- {{MV|LTC John U.D. Page|T-AK-4496}}
- {{MV|SSG Edward A. Carter|T-AK-4544}}
High-speed vessels
=''HSV 2'' class=
- Length: {{convert|331|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|87|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Draft: {{convert|11|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: {{convert|1,463.6|ST|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|35|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 17 contract mariners
- Military: as required by mission
- {{ship|HSV-2|Swift}}
Large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships
=''Watson'' class=
The {{sclass|Watson|vehicle cargo ship|4}} of LMSR built at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego
- Length: {{convert|950|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Beam: {{convert|106|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Draft: {{convert|34|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Displacement: {{convert|62,644|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Power Plant: 2 GE Marine LM 2500 gas turbines; {{convert|64,000|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}}; 2 shafts, cp props
- Speed: {{convert|24|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 30 contract mariners
- Military: 5
;Ships:
- {{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: {{convert|615|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Beam: {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Draft: {{convert|36|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Displacement: {{convert|39,624|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|16.0|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 24 contract mariners
- {{USNS|Lawrence H. Gianella|T-AOT-1125}}
Offshore petroleum distribution system
- Length: {{convert|348.5|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|70|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Draft: {{convert|26.0|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement:
- Speed: {{convert|15|kn|kph|0}}
- 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: {{convert|565|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Beam: {{convert|76|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Draft: {{convert|31|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Displacement: {{convert|22,929|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|17.0|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 38 contract mariners
- {{SS|Cape Jacob|T-AK 5029}}
=''Wright'' class=
Dedicated to USMC aviation logistics support
- Length: {{convert|602|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Beam: {{convert|90|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Draft: {{convert|32|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Displacement: {{convert|23,800|LT|t|abbr=on|0}}
- Speed: {{convert|19|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 41 contract mariners
;Ships:
- {{SS|Wright|T-AVB-3}}
- {{SS|Curtiss|T-AVB-4}}
Former ships
=''Buffalo Soldier'' class=
- Length: {{convert|670|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Beam: {{convert|87|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Draft: {{convert|34|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
- Displacement: {{convert|26,378|LT|abbr=on}}
- Speed: {{convert|16|kn|kph|0}}
- Civilian: 21 contract mariners
;Ships:
- {{MV|Buffalo Soldier|T-AK-9301}}
- {{MV|TSgt John A. Chapman|T-AK 323}}
=''Corporal Louis J. Hauge Jr.'' class=
{{anchor|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 {{convert|157|ft|m|0}} 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; {{convert|16,800|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}}; 1 shaft; bow thruster
- Length: {{convert|755|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Beam: {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on|0}}
- Displacement: {{convert|46,552|LT|t|abbr=on|0}} full load
- Speed: {{convert|17.5|kn|kph|0}}
;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|Virginian (T-AK 9205)}}
Further reading
- 'The Maritime Prepositioning Force and the U.S. Marines,' Asia-Pacific Defense Forum, Spring 1999
- {{cite web
|url= http://www.msc.navy.mil/mpstwo/
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010502152638/http://www.msc.navy.mil/mpstwo/
|url-status= dead
|archive-date= 2 May 2001
|title= Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two
|access-date= 17 January 2010
|author= Military Sealift Command
|author-link= Military Sealift Command
|quote= MPS Squadron Two ships operate out of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory.
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{US Navy navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maritime Prepositioning Ship}}