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The US Navy’s Military Sealift Command is paying $28 million to buy maritime prepositioning ship MV PFC Eugene A. Obregon from WTAK-2 in Mobile, AL. The MSC had previously leased the ship under a long-term lease contract (N00033-82-C-1021), which contained an option to purchase. The ship’s new name will be USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon.
WTAK-2 is executing the sale on behalf of Bell Atlantic Tricon Leasing. The ship will remain crewed by about 26 US merchant mariners employed by Waterman Steamship Corp. in Mobile, AL.
Obregon is one of 15 maritime prepositioning ships (MPS) that strategically place US Marine Corps equipment and supplies at sea around the world, making the cargo readily available to Marines who are flown into a theater of operations.
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The MPS are laden with a variety of Marine Corps equipment and supplies, including tanks, ammunition, food, hospital equipment, petroleum products and spare parts – ready for delivery ashore when needed.
Three ship squadrons each contain 4 to 5 MPS, as well as other prepositioning ships that are dedicated to other military services. Each MPS squadron carries sufficient equipment and supplies to sustain more than 15,650 Marine Expeditionary Force personnel for up to 30 days.
Beginning in 2000, 3 Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) ships were added into the existing MPS squadrons, one ship per squadron. Each MPF(E) ship carries a Navy fleet hospital, an expeditionary airfield and engineering equipment.
The 14 other MPS supporting the USMC are:
* USNS 2nd Lt John P. Bobo
* USNS Sgt William R. Button
* USNS Dahl
* MV Maj Bernard F. Fisher
* USNS Lawrence H. Gianella
* USNS Sgt Matej Kocak
* USNS 1st Lt Baldomero Lopez
* USNS 1st Lt Jack Lummus
* USNS 1st Lt Harry L. Martin
* USNS Maj Stephen W. Pless
* USNS Sisler
* USNS GYSgt Fred W. Stockham
* USNS LCpl Roy M. Wheat
* USNS PFC DeWayne T. Williams
Overall, the MSC operates 31 prepositioning ships for the US military. Afloat prepositioning strategically places military equipment and supplies aboard ships located in key ocean areas to ensure rapid availability during a major theater war, a humanitarian operation or other contingency.
Most of MSC’s prepositioning ships are able to discharge cargo pierside or while anchored offshore by using shallow-draft barges, called lighterage, that are carried aboard. This allows cargo to be ferried to shore in areas where ports are non-existent or in poor condition and gives US military forces the ability to operate in both developed and undeveloped areas of the world.
Prepositioning ships include a combination of US government-owned ships, chartered US-flagged ships and ships activated from the Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force. All prepositioning ships are crewed by US civilian mariners who work for ship operating companies under contract to the federal government.