T-AOE-6-class Supply Ships: Keeping Up with US Navy Carrier Battle Groups
When US Navy carrier battle groups are rapidly deployed to hot spots, they need supply ships fast enough to keep up with them. That is the purpose of the US Military Sealift Command’s T-AOE-6-class fast combat support ship.
The T-AOE-6-class, which is the MSC’s largest combat logistics ship, can carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil; 2,150 tons of ammunition; 500 tons of dry stores; and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. There are currently 4 in service.
L-3 Systems in Camden, NJ recently won a contract worth up to $44.7 million to design and produce the ships’ machinery control systems…
The machinery control system monitors and controls the ship’s main propulsion plant and auxiliary systems.
The contract includes 12 options which, if exercised, would bring its cumulative value to $44.7 million. If all options are exercised, work is expected to be completed in December 2016.
This contract was competitively procured with 2 offers received by MSC in Washington, DC (N00033-10-C-7501). The solicitation was issued on an unrestricted basis, using full and open competitive procedures via the MSC, Navy Electronic Commerce Online, and FedBizOpps Web sites.
T-AOE-6-class Ship Fast Facts
- General Characteristics: Supply Class
- Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. in San Diego, CA
- Power Plant: 4 GE LM2500 gas-turbines; 2 shafts; 105,000 hp
- Length: 754 feet
- Beam: 107 feet
- Displacement: 48,800 tons full load
- Speed: 25 knots
- Aircraft: 3 CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters
- Crew: 160 civilians, 59 military
- Names of ships: USNS Supply [T-AOE-6]; USNS Rainier [T-AOE-7]; USNS Arctic [T-AOE-8]; USNS Bridge [T-AOE 10]