Large, Medium-speed, Roll-on/Roll-off Ships T-AKR

Last updated: 13 Oct 2021

Point of Contact
Military Sealift Command
Public Affairs

471 East C St.
Norfolk, VA 23511-2419

(757) 443-2839

Description
Military Sealift Command operates 19 Large, Medium-Speed, Roll-on/Roll-off Ships, or LMSRs. These ships have significantly expanded the nation's sealift capability in the 21st century. Twenty LMSRs have been converted or built at U.S. shipyards. One was further converted for other use. Eight are assigned to MSC's Prepositioning Program and the remaining 11 belong to MSC's Sealift Program.

Features
LMSRs can carry an entire U.S. Army Task Force, including 58 tanks, 48 other tracked vehicles, plus more than 900 trucks and other wheeled vehicles. The ships can carry vehicles and equipment to support humanitarian missions, as well as combat missions. The new construction vessels have a cargo carrying capacity of more than 380,000 square feet, equivalent to almost eight football fields. In addition, LMSRs have a slewing stern ramp and a removable ramp that services two side ports making it easy to drive vehicles on and off the ship. Interior ramps between decks ease traffic flow once cargo is loaded aboard ship. Two 110-ton single-pedestal twin cranes make it possible to load and unload cargo where shoreside infrastructure is limited or nonexistent. A commercial helicopter deck was added for emergency, daytime landing.

Background
The need for additional military sealift ships was identified in a congressionally mandated study by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the early 1990s. It highlighted the urgent need for greater sealift capacity to transport military equipment and supplies during wartime and other national contingencies. An ambitious Strategic Sealift Acquisition Program added 19 LMSRs, providing five million square feet of new capacity: two million for Prepositioning and three million for surge sealift. Subsequently, one surge LMSR, USNS Soderman, was transferred to MSC's Prepositioning Program for conversion as the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) ship USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat. Congress then authorized the construction of a new replacement LMSR to be named USNS Soderman.

General Characteristics, Watson Class

Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.

Propulsion: 2 GE Marine LM gas turbines; 64,000 hp (7.7 MW); 2 shafts, cp props.

Length: 951.4 feet (290.18 meters)

Beam: 106 feet (32.33 meters)

Displacement: 62.968 tons (63,975.49 metric tons) full load

Speed: 24 knots (27.62 mph)

Crew: 26 civilian crew (up to 45); up to 50 active duty

Load: 393,000 sq. ft. cargo space

Homeport: No homeport assigned

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)

General Characteristics, Bob Hope Class

Builder: Avondale Industries

Propulsion: 4 Colt Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V diesels; 65,160 hp(m) (47.89 MW)

Length: 951.4 feet (290.18 meters)

Beam: 106 feet (32.33 meters)

Displacement: 62.968 tons (63,975.49 metric tons) full load

Speed: 24 knots (27.62 mph)

Crew: 26 civilian crew (up to 45); up to 50 active duty

Load: 380,000 sq.ft.cargo space

Ships:

USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300)

USNS Fisher (T-AKR 301)

USNS Seay (T-AKR 302)

USNS Mendonca (T-AKR 303)

USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304)

USNS Brittin (T-AKR 305)

USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306)

General Characteristics, Gordon Class

Builder: Built in Denmark in 1972 and lengthened by Hyundai in 1984; Conversion: Newport News Shipbuilding

Propulsion: 1 Burmeister & Wain 12K84EF diesel; 26,000 hp(m) (19.11 MW); 2 Burmeister & Wain 9K84EF diesels, 39,000 hp(m) (28.66 MW); 3 shafts (center cp prop) bow thruster.

Length: 956 feet (291.58 meters)

Beam: 105.9 feet (32.29 meters)

Displacement: 55,422 tons (56,308.75 metric tons) full load

Speed: 24 knots (27.6 mph).

Crew: 26 civilian crew (up to 45); up to 50 active duty

Load: 284,064 sq. ft. plus 49,991 sq.ft. deck cargo

Homeport: No homeport assigned

Ships:

USNS Gordon (T-AKR 296)

USNS Gilliland (T-AKR 298)

General Characteristics, Shughart Class

Builder: Built in Denmark in 1981 and lengthened by Hyundai in 1987; Conversion: National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.

Propulsion: 1 Burmeister & Wain 12L90 GFCA diesel; 46,653 hp(m) (34.29 MW); 1 shaft; bow and stern thrusters.

Length: 906.75 (276.56 meters)

Beam: 105.5 feet (32.29 meters)

Displacement: 55,298 tons (56,182.77 metric tons) full load

Speed: 24 knots (27.6 mph).

Crew: 26 civilian crew (up to 45); up to 50 active duty

Load: 260,779 sq. ft. plus 51,682 sq. ft. deck cargo

Homeport: No homeport assigned

Ships:

USNS Shughart (T-AKR 295)

USNS Yano (T-AKR 297)

Point of Contact
Military Sealift Command
Public Affairs

471 East C St.
Norfolk, VA 23511-2419

(757) 443-2839

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