T-AKE Ship Class Grows: One Launched and One Delivered

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships - the Navy's newest class of logistics ships, also called T-AKEs – continued to grow last week with the launch of the 10th ship in the class and the delivery of the ninth to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command.

USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10)was christened and launched during an early morning ceremony Feb. 27, at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. Ship's sponsor Bebe Drew Price, daughter of the ship's namesake, broke the traditional bottle of champagne across the bow.

USNS Charles Drew honors Dr. Charles Drew, an American physician, regarded as the father of the blood bank, who researched and developed methods of blood collection, plasma processing and storage. Drew's research in blood storage first benefited Soldiers in the field during World War II, but has continued to save the lives millions of people worldwide. His blood bank design is still the model for modern hospitals and organizations such as the American Red Cross.

On Feb. 24, Military Sealift Command, which owns and operates the ships, accepted delivery of USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9). Perry was launched and christened at NASSCO's shipyard Aug. 16, 2009, and underwent a series of tests and trials prior to delivery.

"The T-AKEs are an incredibly important asset to the Navy and we are proud to see the class continue to grow," said Capt. Jerome Hamel, commander of Sealift Logistics Command Pacific – MSC's San Diego office. "Not only do the T-AKEs support Navy warfighters by delivering stores, ammunition, fuel and spare parts, but the ships are also capable of fulfilling non-traditional missions such as the 2009 Pacific Partnership humanitarian assistance mission of USNS Richard E. Byrd."

Perry is expected to conduct missions for MSC in the fall of this year and will operate in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Drew is scheduled for delivery to the MSC fleet later this year.

T-AKEs allow Navy ships to stay at sea, on station and combat ready, for extended periods of time. The ships are crewed by approximately 124 civil service mariners and 11 U.S. Navy Sailors, who provide supply coordination.

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.

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 To Christen USNS Matthew Perry

The Navy will christen and launch the dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Matthew Perry, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, during a 5 p.m. PDT ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif.

Continuing the Lewis and Clark-class (T-AKE) tradition of honoring legendary pioneers and explorers, the Navy’s newest underway replenishment ship recognizes Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858) who led a squadron of ships to Japan in 1853 with the aim of opening that nation to trade. He served during the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War, and was sent to suppress piracy and the slave trade in the West Indies.

Vice Adm. Richard Hunt, commander, 3rd Fleet, will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Hester Evans, descendant of the ship’s namesake, will serve as ship’s sponsor. The ceremony will include the time-honored Navy tradition of the sponsor breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship.

Designated T-AKE 9, Matthew Perry is the ninth ship of the class, a program of up to 14 ships, the first 11 of which will serve as combat logistics force ships and the last three of which are expected to be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future). As a combat logistics force ship, Matthew Perry will help the Navy maintain a worldwide forward presence by delivering ammunition, food, fuel, and other dry cargo to U.S. and allied ships at sea.

As part of Military Sealift Command’s Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, Matthew Perry is designated as a United States Naval Ship (USNS) and will be crewed by 124 civil service mariners and 11 Navy sailors. The ship is designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea and can carry two helicopters. The ship is 689 feet in length, has an overall beam of 106 feet, has a navigational draft of 30 feet, displaces approximately 42,000 tons, and is capable of reaching a speed of 20 knots using a single-shaft, diesel-electric propulsion system.