Tag Archives: USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205)

Navy

The lead ship

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the lead ship of its new class of fleet replenishment oilers, USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205), July 26.

USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205)
The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the lead ship of its new class of fleet replenishment oilers, USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205), July 27. T-AO 205’s delivery follows the completion of Acceptance Trials with the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey to test the readiness and capability of the craft and to validate requirements

T-AO 205’s delivery follows the completion of Acceptance Trials with the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) to test the readiness and capability of the craft and to validate requirements.

«USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205) will provide much needed capability to the fleet as the primary fuel pipeline at sea», said John Lighthammer, program manager, Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office. «This is the first of a 20-ship class providing the Sailors and merchant mariners another tool to support at-sea operations».

The new John Lewis-class T-AOs will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide diesel fuel and lubricating oil, and small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions, stores, and potable water to Navy ships at sea, and jet fuel for aircraft. The new T-AOs will add capacity to the U.S. Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and become the cornerstone of the fuel delivery system.

NASSCO is currently in production on USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO-207), and USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO-208). The future USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO-209) and USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO-210) are under contract.

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, boats and craft.

Navy

Acceptance Trials

USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205), the U.S. Navy’s lead ship of its new class of fleet replenishment oilers, conducted Acceptance Trials, April 25.

USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205)
USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205) conducts Acceptance Trials

Acceptance Trials consist of a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allow the Navy and the shipbuilder, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), to assess the ship’s systems and readiness prior to delivery to the U.S. Navy.

«The John Lewis-class oilers will add capacity to the U.S. Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and become the cornerstone of the fuel delivery system at sea», said John Lighthammer, program manager, Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office. «We are excited to welcome the USNS John Lewis to the fleet».

The John Lewis-class T-AOs will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide fuel and lubricating oil, and small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions, stores, and potable water to Navy ships at sea, and fuel for the embarked aircraft.

The oilers feature the capacity to carry barrels of oil, a significant dry cargo capacity, aviation capability and a speed of 20 knots/23 mph/37 km/h. NASSCO designed the new vessels with double hulls to protect against oil spills and strengthened cargo and ballast tanks.

NASSCO is currently in production on USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO-207), and USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO-208). The future USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO-209) and USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO-210) are under contract. NASSCO is also currently in production of two Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESB) – the future USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) and USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB-7).

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and boats and craft.

Navy

Builder’s Trials

USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205), the U.S. Navy’s lead ship of its new class of fleet replenishment oilers, conducted initial Builder’s Trials and returned to port, February 4.

USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205)
USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205) Conducts Builder’s Trials

Builder’s Trials consist of a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allow the U.S. Navy and the shipbuilder, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), to assess the ship’s systems and readiness prior to acceptance trials and delivery to the U.S. Navy.

«Ensuring readiness through sea trials is a crucial step to bringing this ship closer to fleet tasking», said John Lighthammer, program manager, Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office. «USNS John Lewis will provide much needed capability to the fleet as the primary fuel pipeline at sea. We are looking forward to getting the ship into the hands of Sailors and merchant mariners as another tool to support at-sea operations».

The new John Lewis-class T-AOs will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide diesel fuel and lubricating oil, and small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions, stores, and potable water to Navy ships at sea, and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. The new T-AOs will add capacity to the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and become the cornerstone of the fuel delivery system.

NASSCO is currently in production on USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO-207), and USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO-208). The future USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO-209) and USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO-210) are under contract.

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and boats and craft.

Navy

Christening of Lewis

The U.S. Navy christened its first-in-class John Lewis-class replenishment oiler, the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), during a 9 a.m. PDT ceremony Saturday, July 17, in San Diego, California.

USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, served as the principal speaker at the ceremony

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, delivered the ceremonial principal address. Remarks has also been provided by Mr. James Geurts, performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy; Vice Admiral Ross Myers, commander, Fleet Cyber Command and commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet; Rear Admiral Michael Wettlaufer, commander, Military Sealift Command; and Mr. Marcus Tyner, nephew of the ship’s namesake. In a time-honored Navy tradition, the ship’s sponsor, Ms. Alfre Woodard Spencer, christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.

«We christen the first John Lewis-class replenishment oiler», said acting Secretary of the U.S. Navy Thomas Harker. «Leaders like Representative Lewis taught us that diversity of backgrounds and experiences help contribute to the strength of our nation. There is no doubt that the future Sailors aboard this ship will be galvanized by Lewis’ legacy».

The future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205) is the first ship in its class and will be operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The ship is named in honor of the late politician and civil rights leader. John Lewis-class oilers will be named for other prominent civil rights leaders and activists.

The John Lewis-class ships are based on commercial design standards and will recapitalize the current T-AO 187-class fleet replenishment oilers to provide underway replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea. These ships are part of the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force.

In June 2016, the Navy awarded a $3.2 billion contract to General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego for the design and construction of the first six ships of the Future Fleet Replenishment Ship, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205), with construction commencing in September 2018. The U.S. Navy plans to procure 20 ships of the new class.

Lewis passed July 17, 2020; the christening marks the one-year anniversary of his death.

Navy

John Lewis

On January 12, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) launched the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), the first of six vessels in the John Lewis-class fleet oiler program designed to support the U.S. Navy.

USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205)
General Dynamics NASSCO Launches First Ship in the T-AO Fleet Oiler Program for the U.S. Navy

Construction of the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205) began in the fall of 2018 and utilized more than 18,575 tons of steel to complete. The 745.7-foot-long/227.3-meter-long vessel is designed to transfer fuel to U.S. Navy carrier strike group ships operating at sea, the oilers will feature the capacity to carry 157,000 barrels/24,961,005 liters of oil, a significant dry cargo capacity, aviation capability and up to a speed of 20 knots/23 mph/37 km/h.

«NASSCO is immensely honored to be a part of this historic day launching the future John Lewis», said Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. «This ship reaffirms our Nation’s stability and represents the same strength, values and honor that her namesake, the Honorable John Lewis, stood for. The shipbuilders of NASSCO are proud to ensure his legacy will live on in this majestic vessel».

Adding to the momentum of the fleet’s success, NASSCO started construction on the future USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207), the third vessel in the program, late last year.

In 2016, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company was awarded the contract by the U.S. Navy for the detailed design and construction of the next generation of fleet oilers, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205), previously known as the TAO(X). This contract is for the construction of six ships.

The christening of the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), will be celebrated later in 2021 with the ship’s sponsor following tradition of breaking a champagne bottle on the ship’s hull.

 

General Characteristics

Builder NASSCO
Propulsion Twin shaft, geared medium speed diesels with Power Take-Off (PTO) generators/Power Take In (PTI)
Length 227.3 meters/745.7 feet
Beam 32.2 meters/105.6 feet
Displacement 22,173 metric tons/24,442 short tons (lightship)
Speed 20 knots/23 mph/37 km/h
Crew 99 civilian mariners (CIVMARS)
Load Dry Stores Capacity: 1,576 m3/55,656 feet3
Freeze/Chill Capacity: 1,362 m3/48,099 feet3
Aircraft None (landing platform for vertical replenishment can accommodate H-1 Iroquois, H-53 Sea Stallion, H-60 Black Hawk, MV-22 Osprey, and Military Support Centers’ (MSC’s) commercial logistics helicopters)

 

Ships:

T-AO-205 John Lewis – (under construction)

T-AO-206 Harvey Milk – (named)

T-AO 207 Earl Warren – (named)

T-AO 208 Robert F. Kennedy – (named)

T-AO 209 Lucy Stone – (named)

T-AO 210 Sojouner Truth – (named)

T-AO 211

T-AO 212

T-AO 213

T-AO 214

T-AO 215

T-AO 216

T-AO 217

T-AO 218

T-AO 219

T-AO 220

T-AO 221

T-AO 222

T-AO 223

T-AO 224

Navy

Keel Authenticated

The keel for the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205), the Navy’s first John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, was ceremonially laid at General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) May 13.

Future USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205) Keel Authenticated

A keel laying is the ceremonial recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. It is the joining together of a ship’s modular components and the authentication or etching of an honoree’s initials into a ceremonial keel plate. The ship’s namesake, U.S. Representative John Lewis, and the ship’s sponsor, actress Alfre Woodard, etched their initials into the keel plate.

«We’re honored to have Representative Lewis and Ms. Woodard with us today as we lay the foundation for recapitalizing our nation’s critical fuel-replenishment-at-sea capabilities», said Mike Kosar, Support Ships, Boats and Craft program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. «These ships are steadfast, reliable and allow our warships to defend our freedoms for which Representative Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting».

The John Lewis-class ships are based on commercial design standards and will recapitalize the current T-AO 187-class fleet replenishment oilers to provide underway replenishment of fuel to U.S. Navy ships at sea. These ships are part of the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force.

John Lewis will be operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command and is the first ship named after the civil rights leader and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. Construction of John Lewis began in September 2018, with delivery planned in late 2020.

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, sealift ships, support ships, boats and craft.