MSC Accepts Fifth Addition to Newest Ship Class

By Anna Hancock, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

Balloons and bunting decorate the bow of Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) during christening ceremonies at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard. The ship is named for the man who led the first expedition to the geographic North Pole. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Brian Brannon)

Military Sealift Command (MSC) accepted delivery of dry/cargo ammunition ship USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE-5) in San Diego, June 5. The ship was built by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company.

Named in honor of Navy Rear Adm. Robert E. Peary, leader of the first expedition to the North Pole, the ship is the fifth in the Lewis and Clark-class of underway replenishment ships with the designation T-AKE-5.

The ships' primary mission is to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to the Navy's underway carrier and expeditionary strike groups allowing them to stay at sea for extended periods of time.

"Introducing this ship to the fleet is a great step in modernizing the Navy and bringing new capabilities to the fleet," said Capt. Gregory L. Horner, Peary's civil service master.

The T-AKEs will replace some of MSC's aging, single-mission ships such as Kilauea-class ammunition ships and Mars- and Sirius-class combat stores ships that are nearing the end of their service lives.

At the end of July, the 689-foot Peary will go a short 'shakedown cruise' where the ship's crew will test a range of shipboard operations. By the end of the summer, Peary will depart for her homeport in Norfolk, to soon deploy on its first operational mission.

Peary has a crew of 124 civil service mariners working for MSC, as well as a military detachment of 11 Sailors who provide operational support and supply coordination. When needed, Peary can also carry a helicopter detachment.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, merchant mariner-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

Navy's Newest Replenishment Ship Christened in San Diego

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.

Navy to Christen USNS Robert E. Peary

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy will christen the USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE-5) at an 11 a.m. PST ceremony on Feb. 9.

The christening ceremony for the newest ship in the Lewis and Clark class of underway replenishment ships will be held at General Dynamics NASSCO, San Diego.

The new ship honors Rear Adm. Robert Edwin Peary, (1856-1920), an American explorer born in Cresson, Pa., who is credited as the first person to reach the geographic North Pole. Peary was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Oct. 26, 1881, and achieved the rank of rear admiral. He was recognized by Congress with a special act on March 30, 1911.

Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, will deliver the ceremony's principal address.

Peary S. Fowler, county circuit court judge for Monroe County, Fl., will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her great-grandfather. The launching ceremony will be highlighted in the time-honored Navy tradition when the sponsor breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship "Robert E. Peary."

Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing replenishment services to U.S., NATO and allied ships, Robert E. Peary will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence.

The ship can provide logistic lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships. The ship will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items and expendable supplies and material) to ships and other naval forces at sea. To conduct vertical replenishment, the ship can carry and support two helicopters.

As part of the Military Sealift Command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, Robert E. Peary will be manned by 124 civil service mariners. The ship will also have a military detachment of 11 Sailors to provide operational support and supply coordination, and when needed, the ship will carry a helicopter detachment of 39 military personnel.

The ship was launched on Oct. 27, 2007; however, the planned christening ceremony was delayed as the result of the wild fires threatening the Southern California region.

Blog Note: I served on the last ship in the US Navy to carry the Robert E. peary namesake - USS Robert E. Peary DE/FF-1073 based out of Pearl Harbor. Nice to see that name get picked up again for service in the Navy.