By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Maurice Dayao, Naval Reserve Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Under clear blue southern California skies, the Navy christened dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Feb. 9.
The 689-foot Peary is the fifth in the Navy's new T-AKE class of combat logistics ships designed to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water, and petroleum products to U.S. and coalition naval forces operating at sea.
"Peary's ability to carry multiple products and operate independently at sea for extended periods of time translates into greater capability and a higher state of readiness for our combatant ships and our country," said principal speaker, Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet.
With its enhanced capabilities, Robert E. Peary contributes to the Navy's mandate of forward presence by providing logistic support while carrying cargo such as ammunition, food, repair parts and fuel.
The Commander of Military Sealift Command, Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly Jr., said, "It is also my distinct pleasure to represent Military Sealift Command as we christen this new ship for the Navy, a ship that will become a vital part of the Navy's new cooperative strategy for 21st century sea power."
Robert E. Peary is the fifth ship to be named in honor of Rear Adm. Peary, who is famous for exploring the Arctic region and the northern limits of Greenland. More than 100 guests attended the ceremony as well as a significant number of his descendants, including great-great granddaughters Josephine P. Stafford and Sinclair P. Stafford, and Peary's great granddaughter the Honorable Peary S. Fowler, a county circuit judge from Monroe County, Fla., who served as ship's sponsor for the event.
"We're so proud of our great grandfather, we're proud to be related to him," Fowler said. "It's a huge honor for our family."
Peary will have a crew of 124 civil service mariners working for the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. Peary will also carry a detachment of 11 Sailors who will provide supply coordination.
The first ship of the class, USNS Lewis and Clark, just completed its first operational mission - the first ever for a T-AKE - to the U.S. Central Command area of operations where it delivered 5,856 pallets of food and supplies and nearly 15 million gallons of fuel to U.S. and coalition naval forces operating in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
