Strategic sealift ships


Strategic sealift ships or Maritime prepositioning ships are part of the United States Military Sealift Command's prepositioning program. There are currently 17 ships in the program, strategically positioned around the world to support the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency. Most are named after Medal of Honor recipients from the service they support. The ships are assigned to two Maritime Prepositioning Ship squadrons located in the Indian Ocean at Diego Garcia and in the Western Pacific Ocean at Guam and Saipan.
The MPS ships in each squadron have sufficient equipment, supplies and ammunition to support a Marine Air-Ground Task Force for 30 days. The MPS ships are self-sustaining, with cranes to unload at sea or pierside. MSC chartered the first two ship classes in the MPS role from civilian shipping lines and converted them. Later ships were purpose-built.
Afloat prepositioning by US military began in the early 1980s to improve the response time for the delivery of equipment and supplies to a potential theater of operation.

Ships

''Sergeant Matej Kocak'' class

The Sergeant Matej Kocak class, the second class of MPS ships chartered by MSC, also gained amidships and a helicopter deck after conversion. These ships, delivered to MSC in the mid-1980s, built at Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania, and converted at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego. They were previously owned by Waterman Steamship Corporation but recently sold to MSC and now operated by Keystone Shipping Company. They were all part of the Waterman Line C7-S-133a Series.
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    ''2nd Lieutenant John P. Bobo'' class

The 2nd Lieutenant John P. Bobo-class ships are new construction ships delivered to MSC in the mid-1980s from General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Massachusetts They were owned by American Overseas Marine but have been recently sold to MSC and are now operated by Crowley Technical Management.
  • Builders: General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Massachusetts
  • Power Plant: 2 Stork-Werkspoor 16TM410 diesels; sustained; 1 Omnithruster JT1000 bow thruster,
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  • Displacement: 44,330 tons full load
  • Cargo capacity: Containers, 530; ro-ro, ; JP-5 barrels, 20,776; DF-2 barrels, 13,334; Mogas barrels, 4,880; stable water, 2,357; cranes, one single and two twin 39-ton
  • Helicopters: platform only
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  • Crew: 38 civilians, 10 technicians
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    ''Capt Steven L. Bennett'' class

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  • Civilian: 24 contract mariners
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    ''Maj. Bernard F. Fisher'' class

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  • Civilian: 24 contract mariners
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    ''1st Lt. Harry L. Martin'' class

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  • Civilian: 25 contract mariners
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    ''LCPL Roy M. Wheat'' class

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  • Civilian: 29 contract mariners
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    ''LTC John U. D. Page'' class

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  • Civilian: 20 contract mariners
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    High-speed vessels

''HSV 2'' class

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  • Civilian: 17 contract mariners
  • Military: as required by mission
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    Large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships

''Watson'' class

The of LMSR built at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego
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  • Power Plant: 2 GE Marine LM 2500 gas turbines; ; 2 shafts, cp props
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  • Civilian: 30 contract mariners
  • Military: 5
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    Tankers

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  • Civilian: 24 contract mariners
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    Offshore petroleum distribution system

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  • Civilian: 26 contract mariners
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    Activated Ready Reserve Force ships

The following are part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet but have been activated and are pre-positioned.

Modular cargo delivery system ship

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  • Civilian: 38 contract mariners
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    ''Wright'' class

Dedicated to USMC aviation logistics support
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  • Civilian: 41 contract mariners
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    Former ships

''Buffalo Soldier'' class

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  • Civilian: 21 contract mariners
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    ''Corporal Louis J. Hauge Jr.'' class

Named for Medal of Honor recipient Louis J. Hauge Jr. USMC, the Corporal Louis J. Hauge Jr. class is the original class of MPS ships chartered by Military Sealift Command. The five ships are Maersk Line ships converted by Bethlehem Steel. During conversion, the ships gained an additional amidships and a helicopter landing pad, among other things. They have since been returned to Maersk for commercial use and are no longer part of the MPS program.
  • Builder: Odense Staalskibsvaerft A/S, Lindo
  • Power Plant: 1 Sulzer 7RND76M diesel; ; 1 shaft; bow thruster
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  • Crew: 32 civilians, 10 technicians