MSC Participating in US-ROK Foal Eagle Exercise.

POHANG, Republic of Korea (April 10, 2017) U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Army personnel offload equipment from the Military Sealift Command maritime prepositioning force ship USNS Pililaau (T-AK 304). The offload  utilized a roll-on, roll-off discharge facility anchored off the coast of Pohang during the Combined Joint Logistics Over the Shore (CJLOTS) exercise. CJLOTS is a biennial exercise conducted by military and civilian personnel from the United States and the Republic of Korea, training to deliver and redeploy military cargo as a part of exercise Foal Eagle 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Fulton/Released)

Last T-AKE Class Ship Accepted by Military Sealift Command

By Sarah Burford, Military Sealift Command Pacific Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command accepted delivery of its newest dry cargo/ammunition ship, USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14), during a short ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO Ship Yard San Diego, Oct. 24.

The ship, which was christened May 5 in San Diego, honors Cesar Chavez, an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. He is well known for his use of non-violent tactics that made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support.

"This is an historic day for Military Sealift Command, as we accept into our fleet the last ship in the T-AKE program," said Capt. Sylvester Moore, commander, Military Sealift Command Pacific. "Like the 13 ships that came before it, USNS Cesar Chavez will be an important component in support of the United States Navy ships and missions around the world. Whether we are supporting an aircraft carrier or transporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies, the T-AKEs and all MSC underway replenishment ships bring to life the motto: MSC delivers," he said.

With a crew of 125 civil service mariners working for MSC and 11 U.S. Navy Sailors who provide operational support and supply coordination, the 689-foot long Chavez is the 14th and final of the dry cargo/ammunition ships and is slated for use by MSC's Combat Logistics Force, or CLF.

CLF ships deliver ammunition, food, fuel and other supplies to U.S. and allied ships at sea, enabling the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence. The first 11 dry cargo/ammunition ships are currently operating as part of MSC's Combat Logistics Force,
delivering vital fuel, equipment and supplies to Navy warships at sea. The remaining three ships the T-AKE class are expected to be assigned to maritime prepositioning squadrons, which strategically place combat cargo at sea for rapid delivery to warfighters ashore.

"The delivery of Chavez marks a significant milestone for MSC - we are now at full capacity with our dry-cargo and ammunition ships and stand ready to support a wide-range of Department of Defense requirements," said Rear Adm. Mark Buzby, commander, Military Sealift Command. "The T-AKEs, and the professional mariners who operate them, are a true testament to MSC's ability to operate forward and provide an unprecedented level of service and support to our warfighters worldwide," he said.

T-AKEs are the newest class of Combat Logistics Force ships built for MSC. They replace MSC's aging, single-mission supply ships such as Kilauea-class ammunition ships and Mars- and Sirius-class combat stores ships as they reach the end of their service lives.

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

MSC Takes Delivery of T-AKE class Ship USNS Medgar Evers

By Sarah Burford, Military Sealift Command Pacific Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command accepted delivery of its newest dry cargo/ammunition ship, USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13), during a short ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO Ship Yard San Diego, April 24.

The ship, which was christened Nov. 12, 2011 in San Diego, honors slain civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers, who is remembered for his efforts to end segregation at the University of Mississippi in the 1950s and for his opposition to Jim Crow laws in the 1960s. Since its launch, the ship has been undergoing a series of tests and trials in preparation for its delivery to MSC.

"As USNS Medgar Evers joins the MSC fleet of combat logistics ships today, the food, ordnance and fuel it will provide to the Navy's combatant ships at sea are critical mission enablers for our globally deployed naval forces," said Tim McCully, Military Sealift Command Pacific's deputy commander. "From supporting an aircraft carrier's 75-plus aircraft and 5,500 crew members, to transporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies, USNS Medgar Evers and more than 30 other MSC underway replenishment ships bring to life Military Sealift Command's motto: MSC Delivers."

The 689-foot long Evers, designated T-AKE 13, is the 13th of 14 new dry cargo/ammunition ships scheduled for delivery to the Navy by the end of this year. The first 11 dry cargo/ ammunition ships are currently operating as part of MSC's Combat Logistics Force, delivering vital fuel, equipment and supplies to Navy warships at sea. The remaining three of the 14-ship T-AKE class are expected to be assigned to maritime prepositioning squadrons, which strategically place combat cargo at sea for rapid delivery to warfighters ashore.

Evers has a crew of 125 civil service mariners working for MSC and 11 Navy Sailors who provide operational support and supply coordination.

T-AKEs are the newest class of Combat Logistics Force ships being built for MSC. They are replacing some of MSC's aging, single-mission supply ships such as Kilauea-class ammunition ships and Mars- and Sirius-class combat stores ships as they reach the end of their service lives.

MSC operates approximately 110 non-combatant, civilian-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.

MSC Ships, Personnel Provide Support for Freedom Banner, Cobra Gold Exercises

By Ed Baxter, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

CHUK SAMET, Thailand (NNS) -- Three Military Sealift Command ships are offloading hundreds of pieces of U.S. Marine Corps equipment, containerized supplies and personnel in support of exercises Freedom Banner and Cobra Gold at Chuk Samet, Thailand, through Jan. 28.

Freedom Banner 2011 brings multiple commands together to offload Maritime Prepositioning Force ships USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011) and USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin (T-AK 3015) while both ships are anchored three miles off of the coast.

U.S. Marines will deploy cargo offloaded from Lummus to the field for their participation in the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise, which includes more than 11,000 personnel from Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the United States. Participants will conduct computer-simulated and field exercises and take part in civic assistance projects throughout Thailand Feb. 7-18.

Freedom Banner provides Lummus and Martin, both assigned to Pacific-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Three, with valuable training. The ships' mission is to quickly deliver military cargo and supplies in response to a military contingency or to provide humanitarian assistance. Lummus and Martin are crewed by about 30 mariners apiece working for private companies under contract to MSC.

"Freedom Banner not only offers participants valuable, hands-on training, but has the added benefit of supporting a real-world, vital exercise," said Capt. Herman Awai, MPS Squadron Three commander.

Both ships arrived off Thailand's coast Jan. 19. The first phase of Freedom Banner, Jan. 20-22, included the offload and assembly of the Improved Navy Lighterage System. INLS includes various causeway sections and tugs used to offload combat equipment and supplies where conventional port facilities may be damaged, inadequate or non-existent.

The INLS assembles at sea and connects together like building blocks to form ferries, causeway piers or a large staging area for cargo called a Roll-on/Roll-off Discharge Facility, or RRDF.

Sailors from Williamsburg, Va.-based Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One went to work Jan. 20, aboard Lummus, offloading warping tugs, utility boats, and powered and non-powered modules that make up the INLS. Working around the clock, all cargo was offloaded Jan. 21.

Nine interconnected modules forming the RRDF were offloaded from Martin Jan. 21-22. Fully assembled, the RRDF is equal in size to two basketball courts. NCHB-1 Sailors operated Martin's heavy-lift cranes and placed each 80-ton module safely into the water.

Sailors from San Diego-based Assault Craft Unit One operated warping tugs to carefully position each module. Next, Sailors from San Diego-based Amphibious Construction Battalion One connected the modules until the platform was fully assembled. Tug boats pushed the RRDF behind Lummus' stern and the ship's ramp was lowered onto the RRDF, Jan. 22. Three inter-connected barges, one of which is powered by a water jet propulsion system, then attached itself to the RRDF.

Marines from Okinawa-based Combat Logistics Group Three then began driving wheeled and tracked vehicles onto the causeway sections Jan. 23. In total, 176 pieces of cargo, including Humvees, trucks, amphibious assault vehicles, will be delivered ashore by Jan. 28. Martin will backload the RRDF Jan. 29-31, and then return to Guam. Lummus will remain off the coast and will backload equipment following the completion of Cobra Gold.

Also supporting Cobra Gold is MSC chartered high speed vessel HSV Westpac Express, which delivered 246 Marines from the Okinawa-based 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force to Chuk Samet Jan. 22. The ship will return to Okinawa in early February.

MSC reservists also played an important role. Members from Expeditionary Port Unit 113 from Fort Worth, Texas, and EPU 102 from New York City deployed in support of the exercises. Reservists crewed a mobile sealift operations command center, a portable communications facility designed to operate and manage port operations, even if port infrastructure is damaged or destroyed. EPU's can quickly deploy to a contingency operation and manage the arrival and departures of cargo ships in port.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-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.

Military Sealift Command Supports Operation Pacer Goose 2010

By Bill Cook, Sealift Logistics Command Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command chartered dry cargo ship MV American Tern (T-AK 4729) returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Aug. 9 after completing a resupply mission to Thule Air Force Base, Greenland in support of Operation Pacer Goose.

American Tern and the tanker USNS Samuel E. Cobb (T-AOT 1123) delivered fuel, heavy vehicles and containerized cargo to Thule as part of the annual resupply of the base. Both ships are operated by Military Sealift Command, the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense. Civilian contract mariners have provided key support in supplying this remote location since 1952.

Operation Pacer Goose is one of the Arctic outpost's few sources of food, spare parts and other manufactured goods needed each year. The ships taking part in the mission also remove all of the base's solid waste and non-repairable equipment for return to the United States.

Cobb loaded in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and discharged nearly 8.5 million gallons of fuel at the base July 15-21. After loading dry cargo in Norfolk, American Tern sailed for Greenland and off-loaded July 20-28 in Thule.

The ship delivered four snow-removal tractors weighing about 29 tons each and approximately 120 40-foot containers.

The back-load returning to the United States on American Tern included 83 containers and cargo flat-racks and almost 50 pieces of large break-bulk cargo for a total of nearly 6,900 measurement tons, including two 20-foot tall diesel power plant engines and two quarry dump trucks each weighing more than 35 tons.

While en route to Norfolk, Va., American Tern answered a distress call Aug. 4 from Blair Venture, a fishing vessel. American Tern's crew determined that the vessel required a tow into port, and remained in the vicinity until informed that the Canadian Coast Guard had arranged the tow.

American Tern is an MSC-chartered 521-foot, ice-strengthened container ship with its hull and machinery specially designed to withstand the harsh environment. American Tern's mission also extends beyond Pacer Goose. The ship's strengthened hull makes it MSC's ideal choice to participate in Operation Deep Freeze, the annual resupply of McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Thule, Greenland, is located between the North Pole and the Arctic Circle and is accessible by sea only from mid-June to mid-September due to thick ice that covers its coastal waters.

Created in secret as a refueling base for strategic bombers during the Cold War, the base of more than 1,100 U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard and multinational personnel now serves as a detection and tracking station for objects traveling over the Arctic Circle.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-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.

Sub Tender Transfers to Military Sealift Command

By Adrian Schulte, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) accepted responsibility for submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) Feb. 1. Cable, which is homeported in Guam, serves as a floating maintenance and logistics facility for Navy submarines.

Cable will operate as a commissioned ship with a U.S. Navy captain in charge of a hybrid crew, consisting of 157 civil service mariners (CIVMARs) and 206 uniformed Navy personnel. Other uniformed personnel will maintain and operate the on board repair facility.

Prior to the transfer, Cable was crewed by approximately 599 Navy personnel plus an embarked repair department that brought the total uniformed number to 1,363.

Operating ships with CIVMARs frees uniformed Sailors to perform critical jobs in the combatant fleet.

Cable's CIVMARs will be responsible for the ship's deck department, navigation, engineering plant, galley and steward services and will also have primary responsibility for communications and ship supply functions.

The more than 200 uniformed personnel assigned as crew members will operate the shipboard information systems, maintaining defensive weapons systems and coordinating supply functions with civilian mariners.

All departments under CIVMARs leadership have been reconfigured to combine military and civilian personnel. The transition from military to civilian will continue through the conversion period when ship's navigation, machinery automation and habitability will be modified for CIVMAR operation.

The command ship USS Mount Whitney (AS 39) and submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (LCC 20) are the only other MSC ships that retain their commissioned status and operate with a similar leadership and crewing configuration.

"We've had a great experience working with the CIVMARs and Navy personnel aboard our other submarine tender," said Rusty Bishop, MSC special mission ships program manager. "We are pleased to bring another great ship with an important mission to our program."

Military Sealift Command 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.

High-Speed Ferry Ships to Support Haiti Relief

By Adrian Schulte, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

NORFLOK, Va. (NNS) -- High-speed ferry ships MV Huakai and MV Alakai are preparing to sail to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response to provide disaster relief following the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Huakai and Alakai were originally built to serve as passenger and vehicle ferries in Hawaii but were turned over to the Maritime Administration's custody when the ferry service went bankrupt.

The ships will be under operational control of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) during Operation Unified Response.

The ships' main tasks will be to transfer equipment and personnel in the region. They are configured for the mission to each hold 450 tons of cargo and 500 passengers and can travel at a sustained speed of 33 knots.

Huakai loaded a rapid port opening package, communications gear, fork lifts, trucks, Humvees, supplies and other equipment at Fort Eustis, Va., Jan. 27. Huakai will also carry personnel from the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element, MSC's Expeditionary Port Unit Detachment and elements from the Army's 7th Sustainment Brigade. Huakai got underway Jan. 27 and is scheduled to arrive in Haiti Jan. 29.

Alakai is currently in Norfolk, Va., and is scheduled to get underway for Haiti in the next several days.

Huakai and Alakai are two of 12 ships under MSC control mobilized to date in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. These ships include hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198), rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson (T-AGS 63), maritime prepositioning ships USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011) and USNS Pfc. Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK-3009) and dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2). In addition, three ships have been activated from the Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force to assist with the effort. When activated, these ships will fall under operational control of MSC.

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.

Newest U.S. Navy Logistics Ship Christened, Launched

The Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) slides into the water for the first time during an evening christening and launch ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. Perry is the ninth Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship. Matthew Perry is scheduled to be delivered to Military Sealift Command in early 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by by Sarah Burford/Released)

By Sarah Burford, Sealift Logistics Command Pacific Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9), which will be the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, was christened and launched Aug. 16, during a late afternoon ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.

Perry is expected to be delivered to the Navy's Military Sealift Command in early 2010 following a series of tests and sea trials.

The 689-foot ship slid into the water for the first time as Hester G. Evans – a great, great, great granddaughter of the ship's namesake and the ship's sponsor – broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the ship's bow, christening it USNS Matthew Perry.

The ship honors Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794 – 1858), whose distinguished naval career spanned 50 years. In 1853, Perry led a squadron of ships to Japan, where he successfully negotiated a landmark trade treaty with the Japanese. Perry also served during the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and sailed off the coast of Africa to suppress the slave trade.

"I am confident this fine vessel will well represent the spirit, tenacity and fortitude of her namesake," said Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, as he addressed the nearly 2,000 people present at the event, including distinguished guests from the U.S. military, maritime industry, and state and local government.

"USNS Matthew Perry and her sister ships represent the lifeline of our Navy and are absolutely a vital underpinning of our maritime strategy," said Hunt. "These ships' ability to carry a wide range of critical supplies and equipment and to operate independently at sea for extended periods of time, translates into a higher state of readiness for our combatant ships."

Perry is the ninth ship in the Navy's T-AKE class. These ships are owned and operated by MSC and deliver ammunition, provisions, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to U.S. Navy and other navy ships at sea, allowing them to stay underway and combat ready for extended periods of time. The ships are crewed by 124 civil service mariners working for MSC along with 11 U.S. Navy sailors, who provide supply coordination.

"The ship has a great crew, and we are all ready to get on board, get settled and get going with the work we do for MSC," said Capt. William Baldwin, Perry's civil service master. "We're off to a really good start."

Construction began on Perry in October 2008. Once delivered to MSC, Perry is slated to operate out of San Diego. The Navy plans to build 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships, all of which will be owned and operated by MSC.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-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 Names Ship After Howard O. Lorenzen ‘Father Of Electronic Warfare’

The Navy announced today that the name of the next missile range instrumentation ship will be USNS Howard O. Lorenzen. Designated T-AGM 25, the ship will honor the late Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) electrical engineer who was instrumental in the creation of our nation’s electronic intelligence capabilities. Considered by many to be the ‘Father of Electronic Warfare,’ Lorenzen’s accomplishments include developments in radar, electronic countermeasures systems, and intelligence satellite designs.

Lorenzen led the Galactic Radiation and Background (GRAB) program, the earliest successful U.S. reconnaissance satellite program and the first electronic intelligence satellite. The NRL began the classified GRAB program shortly after the U-2 incident of 1960 to obtain information on Soviet air defense radars that could not be observed by U.S. military aircraft.

USNS Howard O. Lorenzen will be 12,575 tons, 534 feet in length, and have a beam of 89 feet. Manned by a combined crew of 88 sailors and civilian mariners, the ship will host embarked military and civilian technicians from other U.S. government agencies. The construction contract for T-AGM 25 was awarded to VT Halter Marine Inc., in Pascagoula, Miss.

Missile range instrumentation ships provide platforms for monitoring missile launches and collecting data that can be used to improve missile efficiency and accuracy. Like the Navy’s two current missile range instrumentation ships – USNS Observation Island and USNS Invincible – T-AGM 25 will be owned and operated by Military Sealift Command and conduct missions sponsored by the Air Force.

U.S. Navy Charters Kite-Powered Cargo Ship

NEWPORT, Wales (NNS) -- For the first time, the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) has chartered a kite-assisted, fuel-saving cargo ship to carry military equipment.

MV Beluga SkySails (Intl Callsign DDUM/MMSI 218097000 421809710 421809711 600879543)departed Newport, Wales, Oct. 5 after the first of three European port calls to load U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force cargo before the ship's month-long voyage to the United States.

The 400-foot Beluga SkySails is the world's first cargo ship to use a sky sail – a giant, computer-controlled kite that can rise 100 yards into the air and uses wind power to help propel the ship during long ocean transits. Though MSC frequently charters commercial ships to meet mission requirements, this is the first time the command has chartered such a ship.

The ship operating company estimates that the sky sail can reduce fuel costs 20-30 percent, or roughly $1,600 per day.

Though Beluga SkySails' wind power was not a factor in awarding the contract, the ship operating company was likely "able to capitalize on fuel savings to make its offer more competitive," said MSC contracting officer Kenneth Allen.

"MSC values innovation that leads to cost savings," said Navy Capt. Nick Holman, commander of Sealift Logistics Command Europe, MSC's area command for Europe and Africa. "We are proud to be collaborating with innovators in the commercial maritime world to provide our customers with efficient and quality service."

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-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.

Breaking News: Navy Contract Ship Fires Warning Shots Near Suez Canal

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2008 - A ship on short-term charter to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command fired warning shots at a small boat approaching the ship as it was preparing to transit the Suez Canal last night, military officials reported.
There were no reports of casualties from the ship, the Global Patriot.

Officials said several boats approached the Global Patriot while it was preparing to transit the Suez Canal. The boats were hailed and warned by a native Arabic speaker on the Global Patriot to advise them to turn away. Other warning steps, including a signal flare, were used to caution the boats.

One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of warning shots 20 to 30 meters in front of the boat's bow. All shots were accounted for as they entered the water, officials said.

The incident is under investigation. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet command is cooperating with Egyptian authorities, including the Suez Canal Authorities, through the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

And from my Milcom files:

Global Patriot
International Callsign: WWXB
MMSI: 368316000

The Global Patriot is a multipurpose Ro-Lo vessel Global Patriot. The vessel is ideally suited for carriage of rolling stock, containers, project cargo, heavy lifts, break bulk, and bulk cargo. The vessel primarily sailes between the US Gulf, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Africa.

MSC Cargo Ship Loads U.S. Army Equipment Bound for Middle East

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command's (MSC) large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship (LMSR) USNS Gilliland (T-AKR 298) loaded more than 150,000 square feet of U.S. Army equipment in Antwerp, Belgium, March 15-18.

The equipment; trucks, trailers, tanks and other combat support equipment; belongs to the U.S. Army's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Gilliland is delivering the cargo to the Middle East to be used in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, MSC ships have delivered more than 101 million square feet of equipment in support of operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. That is enough cargo to fill a line of railroad cars stretching more than 2,400 miles from Washington, D.C. to Las Vegas.

"Serving the men and women deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan by getting their equipment to them on time is one of our key missions here at Sealift Logistics Command Europe (SEALOGEUR)," said Capt. Nicholas Holman, SEALOGEUR commander. "These Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen depend on MSC to deliver the tools they need to do their job promoting freedom and democracy in the Middle East and around the globe."

Gilliland is one of 19 LMSRs belonging to MSC and is ideally suited to carry oversized military equipment. At 954 feet long, the ship has 380,000 square feet of cargo-carrying capacity, equivalent to almost eight football fields.

Gilliland is named after Korean War Medal of Honor winner Army Cpl. Charles L. Gilliland who sacrificed his life to cover the withdrawal of his unit from enemy fire on April 25, 1951, near Tongmang-ni, Korea.

Military Sealift Command to Deliver Largest MRAP Shipment

In the largest single shipment to date, Military Sealift Command large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304) loaded more than 200 mine-resistant, ambush protected, or MRAP vehicles in Charleston, S.C., on Dec. 13.

These MRAPs, designed to protect occupants against armor-piercing roadside bombs, are destined for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Our ultimate mission is always to support the war fighter, and we take that very seriously," said Capt. George Galyo, commander of MSC's Sealift Logistics Command Atlantic, and operational commander for the load. "We are going to ensure that this vital equipment is underway on time in the most efficient manner possible."

MSC's 950-foot Pililaau is ideally suited to carry the large shipment of heavily armored vehicles. The ship's 380,000 square feet of cargo capacity – the size of nearly eight football fields – is accessible by ramps between each deck to allow the MRAPs to be driven aboard.

"Pililaau was designed for just such a task," said Tom D'Agostino, director of ship operations at the Sealift Logistics Command Atlantic office in Charleston. "In one load, Pililaau can carry what could take a month to deliver by air. Pililaau helps us put these critically needed vehicles in the warfighters' hands at the right place, at the right time, for the right price."

"MRAPs have proven their effectiveness against explosive devices and are saving troops' lives," said Pililaau's civilian master Capt. Richard Malloy. "We are honored to be part of this mission."

MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, resupply Navy ships at sea, and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defense.

USNS Sacagawea Delivered to MSC

After completing sea trials off the southern California coast, dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) was delivered to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) on Feb. 27.

The ship, designated T-AKE, is the second in a new class of combat logistics force ships and is able to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water, and petroleum products to the Navy’s carrier and expeditionary strike groups and other Naval forces.

Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing underway replenishment services, Sacagawea will directly contribute to the Navy’s ability to maintain a forward presence.

“This is a great day for Military Sealift Command, the Naval Sea Systems Command and the General Dynamics/NASSCO (National Steel and Shipbuilding Company) team,” said Sacagawea’s Civil Service Master Capt. George McCarthy. “We look forward to joining the fleet and the global war on terrorism.”

An advantage of this type of ship is its ability to carry multiple products such as cargo, food and spare parts. The T-AKE will replace 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.

The T-AKE ships will provide logistic lift from supply sources either in port or at sea and will transfer cargo that includes ammunition, food, fuel, repair parts, and expendable supplies and material to station ships and other naval forces at sea.

The Sacagawea is the second of nine ships of its class built by General Dynamic’s National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego. The U.S. Navy has awarded NASSCO six contracts valued at approximately $2.8 billion for the design and construction of the ships.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.