John Lewis-class replenishment oiler
The John Lewis class is a class of fleet replenishment oilers which began construction in September 2018.[1] The class will comprise twenty oilers which will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide underway replenishment of fuel and limited amounts of dry cargo to United States Navy carrier strike groups, amphibious ready groups, and other surface forces to allow them to operate worldwide.[2]
USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205) in 2022 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | John Lewis class |
| Builders | General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) |
| Preceded by | Henry J. Kaiser class |
| Planned | 20 |
| On order | 4 |
| Building | 2 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Fleet replenishment oiler |
| Displacement | 49,850 tons full load |
| Length | 746 ft (227.4 m) |
| Beam | 106 ft 5 in (32.4 m) |
| Draft | 33.5 ft (10.2 m) maximum |
| Propulsion | Two medium-speed Fairbanks-Morse 12V48/60CR diesel engines, two shafts, propellers |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Endurance | 6,147 nmi (11,384 km; 7,074 mi) |
| Complement | 125 total |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | AN/SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament |
|
| Aviation facilities | Helicopter flight deck |
| Notes |
|
Design Edit
The John Lewis-class ships are double-hulled and constructed to commercial standards and OPNAVINST 9070.1 requirements. They classed to American Bureau of Shipping steel vessel rules.[3] The ships have capabilities similar to the Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers and rely on existing technology.[4] The ships can carry 156,000 barrels of oil and have increased dry cargo storage over the Henry J. Kaiser class.[5] There are stations on both sides of each ship for underway replenishment of fuel and stores, and will have two dry cargo transfer rigs. The John Lewis-class ships have limited means of self-defense when delivered, including defenses against mines and torpedoes, and will be equipped with crew-served weapons which will be operated by embarked Navy Expeditionary Security Teams for limited self-defense ability against small boat attack. The ships have space, weight, and power reserved for additional self-defense systems, including close-in weapon systems (CIWS) or SeaRAM, and an anti-torpedo torpedo defense system. Even with additional self-defense systems installed the ships will still require escort if operating in a higher threat environment.[4]
History Edit
On 30 June 2016, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) was awarded detailed design and construction for six John Lewis-class replenishment oilers.[6] NASSCO began construction on John Lewis on 20 September 2018, and began construction on Harvey Milk on 3 September 2020.[7] In January 2020 it was announced the lead ship delivery estimate had been delayed from November 2020 until June 2021 due to delays in delivery of gear and flooding of a graving dock.[4]
Naming Edit
The class is named for its lead ship, John Lewis, which in turn is named for American politician and civil rights leader John Lewis. The remaining John Lewis-class oilers will be named after prominent civil rights leaders and activists.[4]
Ships Edit
| Ship | Hull. No. | Namesake | Laid Down | Launched | Status | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lewis | T-AO-205 | John Lewis - Congressman | 13 May 2019 | 12 January 2021 | Active | [6] [8] |
| Harvey Milk | T-AO-206 | Harvey Milk - City Supervisor | 3 September 2020 | 6 November 2021 | Active | [9] |
| Earl Warren | T-AO-207 | Earl Warren - Supreme Court Chief Justice | 30 April 2022 | 28 October 2022 | Christened 21 January 2023 | [10] |
| Robert F. Kennedy | T-AO-208 | Robert F. Kennedy - Attorney General | 5 December 2022 | Under construction | [11][12] | |
| Lucy Stone | T-AO-209 | Lucy Stone - Woman's rights advocate | Under construction | [13] | ||
| Sojourner Truth | T-AO-210 | Sojourner Truth - Woman's rights advocate | On order | [13] | ||
| Thurgood Marshall | T-AO-211 | Thurgood Marshall - Supreme Court Justice | On order | [14] | ||
| Ruth Bader Ginsburg | T-AO-212 | Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Supreme Court Justice | On order | [15] | ||
| Harriet Tubman | T-AO-213 | Harriet Tubman - Civil War-era abolitionist | On order | [16][17] |
References Edit
- ^ "Fleet Replenishment Oilers T-AO". www.navy.mil. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ "Report to Congress on Requirements for the Fleet Replenishment Oiler, T-AO(X)" (PDF). Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) T-AO 205 John Lewis Class Fleet Replenishment Oiler (T-AO 205 Class). Department of Defense. p. 14.
- ^ a b c d "Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). fas.org. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ "John Lewis-Class (TAO-205) Replenishment Oiler Ships". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ a b "General Dynamics NASSCO Awarded Contract to Build Next Generation of U.S. Navy Fleet Oilers". nassco.com. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ "General Dynamics NASSCO Begins Construction on First Ship in the T-AO Fleet Oiler Program for U.S. Navy". nassco.com. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ "Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205)". Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ "John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk christened". naval-technology.com. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ "Fairbanks Morse ships diesel engines for future USNS Earl Warren". navaltoday.com. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ "GD-NASSCO begins construction of USNS Robert F. Kennedy". navalpost.com. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ "Keel Authenticated for Future USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208)". 6 December 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ a b "USNS John Lewis Conducts Builder's Trials". navalnews.com. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ "SECNAV Names Future T-AO USNS Thurgood Marshall, Sponsors for USS Doris Miller". seapowermagazine.org. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "Navy to name ship after Ginsburg". thehill.com. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
- ^ "General Dynamics NASSCO Awarded $736 Million to Build T-AO 213". nassco.com. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ "San Diego's NASSCO will build huge Navy ship to be named in honor of abolitionist Harriet Tubman". sandiegouniontribune.com. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.(subscription required)