U.S. Navy Fact Sheet

Combat Stores Ships - T-AFS

Description
One combat stores ship operated by Military Sealift Command provides underway replenishment of supplies to Navy combatant ships at sea. Supplies include repair parts, spare parts, food, mail and fuel.

Features
Combat stores ships provide underway replenishment of all types of supplies, ranging from repair parts to fresh food, clothing and mail via tensioned cargo rigs and UH-60 Seahawk helicopters or their commercial equivalents.

Background
Since accepting its first combat stores ship in 1981, Military Sealift Command has operated eight T-AFSs in two classes. USNS Sirius (T-AFS 8) was transferred from the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary to MSC on Jan. 18, 1981; USNS Spica (T-AFS 9) on Nov. 5, 1981; and USNS Saturn (T-AFS 10) on Dec. 13, 1983. All three of these Sirius-class ships have been deactivated –Sirius on July 1, 2005; Spica on Jan. 25, 2008 and Saturn on Apr. 6, 2009. USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) became the first of five Navy Mars-class ships to be transferred to Military Sealift Command on Oct. 15, 1992. Mars followed on Feb. 1, 1993; USNS San Diego on Aug. 11, 1993; USNS San Jose on Nov. 2, 1993 and USNS Niagara Falls on Sept. 23, 1994. San Diego deactivated on Dec. 10, 1997; Mars on Feb. 12, 1998 and Niagara Falls on Sept. 22, 2008. Combat stores ships are being replaced by MSC’s new Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition (T-AKE) ships.