LMSRs: Keeping US Troops Abroad Supplied with Heavy Equipment

USNS Gordon [T-AKR 296](click to view full) US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan rely on the timely delivery of supplies and equipment to carry out their missions. One of the primary movers of heavy military equipment to that area of the world is the large medium-speed roll-on/ roll-off ship (LMSR) operated by the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command. These ships need to head out at a moment’s notice. They require operation and maintenance support to keep them in top shape, ready to deliver supplies in theater when needed. To provide this support, the Navy awards large contracts to private companies… LMSR Capabilities LMSR Diagram(click to view enlarge) The Military Sealift Command’s LMSR fleet consists of 19 US government-owned, noncombatant ships that help to offset the shortage of militarily useful cargo ships available in the commercial sector – a concern because US forces overseas depend increasingly on power projection. Each civilian-crewed LMSR has more than 380,000 square feet of cargo-carrying capacity, enough room to play 5 football games at the same time. The ship also has reinforced decks, shipboard cranes, interior ramps, a slewing stern ramp and a movable ramp that services 2 side ports. These ramps can be used for […]