David
Wed April 2, 2003 10:20am
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A C-2A Greyhound of the '
A C-2A Greyhound of the 'Rawhides' of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Forty (VRC-40) taxies on the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) prior to launch. The C-2A provides critical logistics support to aircraft carriers. Its primary mission is Carrier On-Board delivery. Powered by two PT-6 turboprop engines, the C-2A can deliver a payload of up to 10,000 pounds. The cabin can readily accommodate cargo, passengers or both. It is also equipped to accept litter patients in medical evacuation missions. Priority cargo such as jet engines can be transported from shore to ship in a matter of hours.
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David
Wed April 2, 2003 10:20am
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The combat stores ship US
The combat stores ship USNS San Jose (T-AFS 7) pulls alongside USS Nimitz (CVN 68) for a routine resupply. San Jose is one of six combat stores ships operated by the Military Sealift Command and which provide underway replenishment of all types of supplies, ranging from repair parts to fresh food, clothing and mail via tensioned cargo rigs and UH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. The ship is crewed by Department of the Navy civilian employees with a small active duty contingent providing communications and other military functions. Nimitz and her battle group are scheduled to join other multinational coalition forces supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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David
Wed April 2, 2003 10:20am
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A Sailor is transferred t
A Sailor is transferred to the command combat stores ship USNS San Jose (T-AFS 7) from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) by MH-60 Knighthawk from the "Indians" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six (HS-6). San Jose was resupplying Nimitz. One of six combat stores ships operated by the Navy's Military Sealift Command, San Jose provides underway replenishment of all types of supplies, ranging from repair parts to fresh food, clothing and mail via tensioned cargo rigs and helicopters. The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is the Navy command supplying logistics support to U.S. forces around the world, along with the Army's Military Traffic Management Command and the Air Force's Air Mobility Command. The three commands are components of the DoD's U.S. Transportation Command. Nimitz and her battle group are scheduled to join other multinational coalition forces supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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David
Fri April 18, 2003 11:21am
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Two unidentified soldiers
Thursday, April 10, 2003, Two unidentified soldiers of the 1st Armored Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division sleep on board a Globemaster C-17 cargo plane headed to Iraq after their departure from Ramstein Airbase in western Germany on Tuesday.
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm
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An-124 Condor
Function: High payload, long range cargo aircraft.
History: Introduced in 1982 as a long range, heavy lift cargo and troop transport aircraft, the Antonov An-124 Ruslan (NATO designation Condor) is currently the world's largest and heaviest payload aircraft in production in the world. Outclassing the C-5 Galaxy by nearly 20 tons in payload capacity, and the Ilyushin Il-76 by more than 100 tons, the An-124 is only exceeded in lifting ability by the special purpose An-225 Mriya (NATO designation Cossack) which was purpose built to transport the Russian space shuttle, and of which only two were built.
Currently in production at the AVIASTAR facility in Ulyanovsk and the AVIANT State Aviation Plant in Kiev, the An-124, in addition to serving with the Russian military as a long range high payload cargo aircraft capable of delivering or airdropping troops, and equipment, is also in service with a number of civilian organizations as a dedicated cargo transport. Antonov Airlines, Volga-Dniepr, and Poliot all employ the An-124, using it to transport heavy and over sized equipment such as hydraulic turbines, mobile cranes, railway locomotives, earthmovers and dump trucks, and sailing vessels. The An-124 is even capable of transporting other aircraft, ferrying partially disassembled passenger planes to customers worldwide.
To facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo, the nose section is hinged to open upwards, and the tail section is fitted with a pair of clamshell doors. Both nose and tail sections are equipped with integral loading ramps. In addition, the An-124 also employs two traveling cranes, two winches, a rollgang and tie down equipment which limit it's dependence on ground equipment for cargo handling and manipulation. The Ruslan is equipped with multi leg, self-orienting landing gear and is rough surface capable. The landing gear height can be adjusted on the ground, to facilitate loading cargo.
In addition to the An-124-100 currently in production, Air Foyle (UK) in conjunction with Antonov and Aviastar has proposed the construction of two new versions, the An-124-210, and the An-124-100M. Both versions will be equipped with Western and Russian digital instruments and displays which will reduce the crew size from 6 to 4. In addition, both will be equipped with a traffic alert collision and avoidance system, ground proximity warning system and a satellite communications system. The 210 will be outfitted with Rolls-Royce RB211-52H-T engines, while the 100M will be equipped with the Series 3 D-18 engines, produced by the Progress Design Bureau in Zaporozhe. Each of these engine upgrades will increase the Ruslan's range by 10% and reduce take off distance.
Description: Typical of most cargo aircraft, the An-124 body forms a thick oval cross-section, with a tapered aft section and rounded nose to facilitate cargo handling. The fuselage is of a twin deck design, the upper deck being the flight deck, and the lower deck serving as the cargo hold. On the flight deck are the cockpit, with stations for the six crewmembers, a relief crew compartment, and seating for an additional 88 passengers. The loadmaster's station is on the cargo deck.
The wings are mounted high on the fuselage at a negative dihedral, are tapered and swept, with a relatively high cross-section to increase efficiency and range. The four Lotarev D-18T turbofans are mounted on pylons underneath the wings. The horizontal stabilizers are also swept back and tapered, and are mounted at mid level on the fuselage, aft of the vertical stabilizer.
General Characteristics, AN-124 Condor
Power Plant:
Four D-18T turbofans (An-124-100)
Four D-18T Series 3 (An-124-100M)
Four RB211-524H-T (An-124-210)
Thrust:
229 kN (153,558 pounds)
An-124-210: 264 kN (177,027 pounds)
Length:
69.1 meters (226.4 feet)
Height:
21.08 meters (69.2 feet)
Wingspan:
73.3 meters (240.5 feet)
Cargo Hold Dimensions:
Floor length including ramps: 36.5 meters
Width at floor level: 6.4 meters
Height: 4.4 meters
Volume cargo hold: 1,270 cubic meters
Speed:
800 to 850 kmh
Cruise speed at an altitude of 9 km: 750 to 800 kmh
Ceiling:
12,000 meters (39,370 feet)
Load-Carrying Capacity:
120 tons using a 2,800 meter runway (2300 meters for An-124-210)
150 tons using a 3,000 meter runway (2500 meters for An-124-210)
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
392 tons
Range:
With maximum fuel: 13,300 kilometers (7,980 miles) (15,250 for An-124-210)
With 40-ton payload: 10,960 kilometers (6,576 miles) (12,730 for An-124-210)
With 120-ton payload: 5,030 kilometers (3,018 miles) (5,950 for An-124-210)
Crew:
Seven (An 124)
Four (An-124-100)
Four (An-124-100M)
Three (An-124-210)
Runway:
3000 meters (2,420 for An-124-210)
Takeoff run on concrete runway: 2520 meters (2,420 for An-124-210)
Landing roll on concrete runway: 900 meters
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm
Rating: 8
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Il-76 Candid
Function: Medium range, medium lift cargo aircraft.
History: The Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO designation Candid) was fielded by the Soviet Air Force in 1974 as a medium range, medium payload, rough surface capable cargo aircraft. Produced by the Ilyushin Aviation Complex Joint Stock Company in Moscow and the Tashkent Aircraft Production Corporation in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the Il-76 was purpose built as a combat support aircraft who's primary mission was to deliver infantry and light armored vehicles. The Il-76 is also paratrooper capable, and can air deliver palletized cargo and specially prepared military vehicles.
To facilitate rough field operations, the Il-76 is equipped with a low ground pressure landing gear system and extendable trailing flaps and leading edge slats on the wings to generate additional lift at low airspeeds. To support airborne cargo delivery missions, the Candid is equipped with a telpher; an over-head electrically operated track from which cargo can be suspended and deployed, as well as a deck mounted roller conveyer system. The Il-76 can also be converted to a litter capable airborne ambulance.
Since its introduction, the Il-76 has undergone a number of modifications. The Il-76M is virtually identical to the base line Il-76 in terms of physical appearance, and flight characteristics, but with almost twice the payload capacity (47 tons for the M model, up considerably from the 28 tons of the basic model.) The Il-76MD is essentially an Il-76M with structural modifications to increase fuel load and range. The additional fuel carried increased the MD's maximum take off weight by 20 tons, and increased the range of the aircraft by 40%. The Il-76MF variant incorporates a 6.6-meter insertion into the fuselage to increase cargo hold dimensions, as well as improved engines, replacing the four D-30KP turbofan engines with four more powerful PS-90A-76 turbofans. These new engines improve range by 20% over the MD model. The MF's maximum take off weight has been increased to 210 tons, and the maximum payload has been increased to 52 tons.
In addition to serving as a cargo aircraft, the basic Il-76 design has been modified to fill a number of additional aircraft requirements. The A-50 Mainstay Airborne Early Warning radar aircraft is derived from the Il-76 design, and the Il-78 Midas aerial tanker is derived from a modified MD airframe.
Description: As with most cargo aircraft, the Il-76 body was designed to maximize available space. The fuselage is long and more rounded in cross-section than the more contemporary An-124 Condor, with a tapered aft section and rounded nose. The tail has a pair of clamshell doors and integral loading ramp for cargo. The nose, un-like the C-5 Galaxy or the An-124 Condor, is fixed, and the lower section is glassed in for observation. Directly behind the glass nose section is an oval radome, which extends laterally beyond the sides of the frame.
The wings are mounted high on the fuselage at a slight negative dihedral, and are tapered and swept. The four turbofans are mounted on pylons underneath, and forward of the wings. The horizontal stabilizers are also swept back and tapered, and are mounted high on the vertical stabilizer.
Designed as a combat aircraft, the Il-76 is capable of mounting an electronic warfare ECM package, to include radar warning receiver, and chaff and flare dispensers, to defend the aircraft from radar guided and heat seeking missile threats, and is capable of mounting air dropped ordnance on external, wing mounted ejector racks. In addition, the tail section incorporates a manned weapons station, mounting two 23mm cannons and a fire direction radar. This tail gun station is retained on many Russian owned, civilian operated Il-76s, as they were expected to serve with the Air Force during a time of war.
General Characteristics, Il-76 Candid
Power Plant:
Four D-30KP turbofans
Thrust:
12,000 kef
Length:
46.6 meters (152.9 feet)
Height:
14.42 meters (47.31 feet)
Wingspan:
50.5 meters (165.7 feet)
Cargo Hold Dimensions:
Length (less ramp): 20 meters
Width: 3.45 meters
Height 3.4 meters
Speed:
Cruise speed at an altitude of
9 to 12 kilometers: 760 to 780 kmh
Ceiling:
20,695 meters (67,900 feet)
Load-Carrying Capacity:
47 tons
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
170 tons
Range:
With 20-ton payload: 6,100 kilometers (3,660 miles)
With 47-ton payload: 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles)
Crew:
Six or seven
Runway:
Takeoff run on concrete runway: 1,600 meters
Landing roll on concrete runway: 780 to 1,000 meters
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:08pm
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BM-21 122mm Rocket Launch
Function: 122mm self propelled rocket launcher.
Background: The BM-21 Grad (Hail) rocket launcher is the world's most widely-used rocket launcher system. Introduced to the Red Army in 1963 as a replacement for the BM-14 140mm rocket launcher, the BM-21's rockets carry the same sized warhead as the 140mm, and have a much longer range. In addition, because the rockets are smaller in diameter, more rockets can be carried per launcher.
The BM-21 can be operated and fired from the cab, or it can be fired from up to 60 meters away remotely. All 40 rockets can be fired in 6 seconds or they can be fired singly or in groups at 0.5 second intervals. Reloading the launcher takes less than 8 minutes.
The BM-21 fires a 122mm diameter rocket out to a range of 20,380 meters. Although the rockets are primarily fin stabilized, each launch tube is rifled to improve the accuracy of the rocket. In addition to HE-fragmentation, chemical, and incendiary warheads, the BM-21 is also capable of firing extended range munitions out to 36,000 meters.
The BM-21 is currently in service with over 50 countries worldwide, and is manufactured in Russia, North Korea, Egypt, China and Czechoslovakia.
Description: The BM-21 is a 40 round multiple launch rocket system mounted on the rear of a Ural-375D 6?6 cargo truck chassis. The rockets are stacked in 4 banks of 10 rockets apiece. Unlike other rocket launchers, there is no blast shielding around the cab of the transport vehicle.
General Characteristics, BM-21 122mm Rocket Launcher
Length:
23.89 feet (7.35 meters)
Width:
7.8 feet (2.40 meters)
Height:
10.04 feet (3.09 meters)
Weight:
13.7 tons
Cruising Range:
450 kilometers
Speed:
Maximum: 47mph (75kph)
Off road: 22mph (35kph)
Emplacent time:
3 minutes
Displacement time:
2 minutes
Rates of Fire:
Maximum: 40 rockets in 6 seconds
Sustained: Individual rockets at 0.5 second intervals
Maximum Range:
20 km with conventional rockets
36 km with extended range rockets
Introduction Date:
1963
Variants:
BM-21V: 12-round launcher developed for use in Airborne units.
BM-21B: 36-round launcher built on a 6x6 ZIL-131 cargo truck chassis.
Grad-P: Single shot rocket launcher.
9A51 Prima: 50-round launcher built on a 6x6 ZIL-131 cargo truck chassis.
BM-11: 30-round North Korean version.
Type 81: 40-round Chinese version.
Sakr-18: Egyptian version of the BM-21. The 122mm rockets fire 23 kg cluster munitions out to 20km.
RM-70: Czechoslovakian version. Introduced in 1972, the RM-70 uses the same launcher as the BM-21, but is mounted on a TATRA 10 ton 8x8 cargo truck chassis. The TATRA has a fully armored and shielded cab and is capable of carrying an additional "pack" of 40 rockets. This pack can reduce loading time to less than 5 minutes.
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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LSD - Whidbey Island / Ha
Function: Dock landing ships which support amphibious operations.
History: The Whidbey Island Class ships (LSDs 44 to 48) were built by Avondale Industries of New Orleans, which was also selected to build the cargo version of the ship, the Harpers Ferry Class (LSD 49 to LSD 52).
Description: The Whidbey Island Class ships were built to transport and launch air-cushioned landing craft (LCAC). The ships also provide docking and repair facilities for LCACs and for a range of conventional military, utility and personnel landing craft and also provide landing facilities for helicopters. The Harpers Ferry Class provides an increased cargo capacity and reduces the number of air-cushioned landing craft carried from four to two. As well as 340 crew members, the ships have capacity for 500 troops.
The last of this class, USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), was commissioned in May 1998
Under a U.S. Navy program, the Whidbey Island (LSD 41) was fitted with a Quick Reaction Combat Capability/Ship Self Defense System to provide it with a more co-ordinated and effective defence against attack by anti-ship missiles and aircraft. SSDS integrates the weapon control system, the close-in weapon system, the air search radar, the electronic warfare systems and the anti-air missile system. The latest ship of the class, the USS Pearl Harbor, has already been fitted with SSDS, and all twelve ships will be retrofitted with the SSDS by the year 2002.
General Characteristics, LSD
Builders:
Avondale Industries, New Orleans
Power Plant:
Four SEMT-Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel engines
Length, Overall:
610 feet (136 meters)
Beam:
84 feet (25.6 meters)
Displacement:
16,400 long tons (16,663 metric tons) full load
Aviation Facilities:
Landing deck for two Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters
Cargo Capacity:
67,000 cubic feet for marine cargo
20,200 square feet for vehicles
Maximum Speed:
20+ knots
Range:
8,000 miles at 18 knots
Weapons Systems:
Two 20 mm six barrel Phalanx Mark 15 close-in weapon systems fitted at the fore and aft of the top deck
Two 25mm Mark 38 and eight 12.7mm machine guns
Countermeasures:
AN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed decoy system
AN/SLQ-49 inflatable decoy cartridges
Mark 36 Mod 18 Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) launchers
Raytheon AN/SLQ-32Q(V) system
Radar:
Northrop Grumman SPS-67V which operates at G-band
Raytheon SPS-49V5, which operates in C and D bands
Raytheon I- to J-band SPS-64(V)9
Crew:
340 crew, including 22 officers
418 enlisted men for LCAC attachment (air cushioned landing craft attachment)
Landing Force of 441 Marines, 102 surge troops
Ships:
USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41)
USS Germantown (LSD-42)
USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43)
USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44)
USS Comstock (LSD-45)
USS Tortuga (LSD-46)
USS Rushmore (LSD-47)
USS Ashland (LSD-48)
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49)
USS Carter Hall (LSD-50)
USS Oak Hill (LSD-51)
USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52)
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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T-AK - LASH Type Cargo Sh
Function: The lighterage aboard ships are assigned to Military Sealift Command's Prepositioning Program. SS Green Valley, SS Green Harbour, SS Austral Rainbow and MV Jeb Stuart are all stationed out of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
History: The Green Valley was chartered by MSC in 1992. Central Gulf Lines owns and operates the Green Valley. The Austral Rainbow and Green Harbour are also owned and operated by Central Gulf Lines. The Austral Rainbow was first acquired by MSC in 1987 and has had severed successive charters with MSC. The Green Harbour was acquired in 1985. The Jeb Stuart is owned and operated by Waterman Steamship Company under contract to MSC. The Jeb Stuart was chartered in 1992.
Description: The LASH ships are capable of carrying both barges and containers. All four ships are self-sustaining, meaning they are capable of unloading themselves in areas without developed harbor infrastructure.
General Characteristics, Green Valley Class
Builders:
Avondale Shipyards
Power Plant:
Three Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 580 psi (40.8 kg/cm2); 8250F (4400C); one De Laval turbine (Westinghouse in TAFS 6); 22,000 hp (16.4MW) sustained; one shaft
Length, Overall:
820 feet (249.94 meters)
Beam:
100 feet (30.48 meters)
Displacement:
46,152 long tons (46,892.65 metric tons) full load
Speed:
16 knots (18.41 mph, 29.63 kph)
Crew:
24 civilians
General Characteristics, Austral Rainbow Class
Builders:
Avondale Shipyards
Power Plant:
Two combustion engineering boilers; 1,100 psi; two De Val turbines; 32,000 hp; one shaft
Length, Overall:
820 feet (249.94 meters)
Beam:
100 feet (30.48 meters)
Displacement:
39,277 long tons (39,907.32 metric tons) full load
Speed:
16 knots (18.41 mph, 29.63 kph)
Crew:
24 civilians
General Characteristics, Jeb Stuart Class
Builders:
Sumitomo Shipbuilding
Power Plant:
One Sulzer 9RND90 diesel; 26,000 horsepower
Length, Overall:
857 feet (261.21 meters)
Beam:
106 feet (32.31 meters)
Displacement:
66,629 long tons (67,698.27 metric tons) full load
Speed:
16 knots (18.41 mph, 29.63 kph)
Cargo Capacity:
1,191,683 cubic feet
Crew:
24 civilians
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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T-AK - MV Buffalo Soldier
Function: The MV Buffalo Soldier is a Military Sealift Command Prepositioning ship, carrying U.S. Air Force cargo stationed out of Diego Garcia.
History: The Buffalo Soldier is a reflagged French Government Line ship owned by RR and VO Partnership and operated by Red River Shipping.
Description: The Buffalo Soldier is self-sustaining, meaning it can unload itself which is an asset in harbors with little or no infrastructure. Its 120-long-ton capacity roll-on/roll-off ramp accommodates tracked and wheeled vehicles of every description.
General Characteristics, Buffalo Soldier Class
Builders:
Chanters Navigation de la Ciotat
Power Plant:
Two SEMT-Pielstick 18 PC2.5 V diesels; 23,400 horsepower; one shaft; bow thruster
Length, Overall:
670 feet (204.22 meters)
Beam:
87 feet (26.52 meters)
Displacement:
40,357 long tons (41,004.65 metric tons) full load
Speed:
16 knots (18.41 mph, 29.63 kph)
Crew:
19 civilians
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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T-AKR - Fast Sealift Ship
Function: The Fast Sealift Ships are the fastest cargo ships in the world. The ships can travel at speed of up to 33 knots and are capable of sailing from the U.S. East Coast to Europe in just six days, and to the Persian Gulf via the Suez Canal in 18 days, thus ensuring rapid delivery of military equipment in a crisis. Combined, all eight Fast Sealift Ships can carry nearly all the equipment needed to outfit a full Army mechanized division.
History: All were originally built as container ships for Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J., but because of high fuel consuption were not cost-effective as merchant ships. Six ships of this class were approved for acquisition in FY81 and the remaining two in FY82. The purchase price included 4,000 containers and 800 container chassis for use in container ship configuration. All eight were converted to Fast Sealift Ships, which are vehicle cargo ships. With speeds up to 30 knots, they are the fastest cargo ships ever built. Conversion included the addition of roll-on/roll-off features. The area between the forward and after superstructures allows for emergency high hover helicopter lifts. Ninety-three percent of a U.S. Army mechanized division can be lifted using all eight ships. Seven of the class moved 13 percent of all the cargo transported between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia during and after the Persian Gulf War. Six were activated for the Somalian operation in December 1992 and all have been used in various operations and exercises since then. The FSS are all based in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico ports.
Description: Fast Sealift Ships are roll-on/roll-off and lift-on/lift-off ships equipped with on-board cranes and self-contained ramps which enable the ships to off-load onto lighterage which anchored at sea or in ports where shore facilities forunloading equipment are unavailable. The vessels are specially suited to transport heavy or bulky unit equipment such as tanks, large wheeled vehicles and helicopters.
General Characteristics, Cpl. Louis J. Hauge, Jr. Class
Builders:
T-AKR 287, 289, 293 - Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V., Rotterdam, the Netherlands
T-AKR 288, 291 - Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany
T-AKR 290, 292 - A.G. Weser, Bremen, West Germany
Power Plant:
Two Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875 psi (61.6kg/cm2); 9500F (5100C); two GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000 hp (89.5 MW); two shafts (60,000/shaft)
Length, Overall:
946.2 feet (288.40 meters)
Beam:
106 feet (32.31 meters)
Displacement:
55,350 long tons (56,238.26 metric tons) full load
Speed:
33 knots (37.98 mph, 61.12 kph)
Crew:
42 (fully operational); 24 (USCG minimum); 18 (reduced operating status)
Ships:
USNS Algol (T-AKR 287)
USNS Bellatrix (T-AKR 288)
USNS Denebola (T-AKR 289)
USNS Pollux (T-AKR 290)
USNS Altair (T-AKR 291)
USNS Regulus (T-AKR 292)
USNS Capella (T-AKR 293)
USNS Antares (T-AKR 294)
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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LPD - San Antonio Class A
Function: The Landing Platform Dock 17, San Antonio Class, is the latest class of amphibious force ship for the United States Navy. The mission of the LPD 17 ships is to transport marines, with helicopters and air-cushioned landing craft to trouble spots around the world. The first ship, the San Antonio (LPD 17), is currently under construction and is scheduled to be delivered in November 2002.
History: In December 1996 the U.S. Navy awarded a contract to an industrial alliance led by Litton Industries Avondale with Bath Iron Works and Raytheon Company to design and construct the first of an anticipated twelve ships under the Navy's LPD 17 program. Litton Avondale will build eight of the twelve, including the first of class ship and the second. Bath will construct four, including the third of class vessel. The second ship, New Orleans (LPD 18), is planned to commission in 2004.
Description: The ship is of all steel construction with diesel propulsion. The ship provides three vehicle decks of 25,402 square feet and two cargo holds with 25,548 cubic feet for bulk cargo and ammunition magazines in addition to 1,234 cubic m for cargo fuel. Accommodation is provided for two LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushioned), 720 troops and 15 vehicles.
At the stern of the ship the landing deck is able to accommodate two Sikorsky CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters, four Bell AH/UH-1 Iroquois twin Huey helicopters, four Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, or two Bell V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
The hangar deck provides aviation maintenance facilities and is sufficiently large to accommodate one Sea Stallion, two Sea Knight, three Iroquois helicopters or one Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The hangar doors are constructed by Indal Technologies. Each blast-resistant door weighs 18,000 kilograms and has three horizontal folding panels.
LPD 17 was planned to be equipped with the Mark 41 launcher for the Raytheon Evolved Seasparrow surface-to-air missile (ESSM), but budgetary considerations have meant that this may not now be fitted. Two Mark 31 launchers are capable of launching the fire and forget Raytheon Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). RAM is a point defence anti-missile missile.
San Antonio will have two Mk 15 Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS) from Raytheon and General Dynamics. Each Phalanx CIWS has one 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan Gatling-principle gun which fires 3,000 rounds per minute at a range of 1.5 km. The ship is also equipped with three Mark 38 25-mm machine guns and four 12.7 mm machine guns.
San Antonio is one of the classes of vessels planned to receive the SSDS (Ship Self Defense System) being developed by the U.S. Navy. SSDS will be an integration of all the ship's self defence systems and will include multi-function radar, ESSM, Advanced Integrated Electronic Warfare System and infrared search and track system (IRST). LPD 22, the sixth of class is scheduled to be the first ship to receive the complete system, which will be retrofitted to the rest of the class. SSDS is also to be fitted to the U.S. Navy projected new carriers (CVN 76) and destroyers (DD 21).
General Characteristics, LPD
Builders:
Defoe SB Co, Bay City
Dillingham SR, Portland
Norshipco, Norfolk
Tampa SY
Keith Ship Repair, New Orleans
Power Plant:
Four medium speed turbocharged marine diesels; two shafts; two single reduction gears; two controllable pitch propellers
Length, Overall:
683 feet (208.18 meters)
Beam:
105 feet (32 meters)
Displacement:
25,300 long tons (25,706 metric tons) full load
Aviation Facilities:
Hangar "O" level maintenance facilities for one CH-53E, or two CH-46s, or three UH/AH-Is helicopters, or one MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft
Landing deck for two CH-53E, or four AH/UH-1, or four CH-46, or two MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft
Medical Facilities:
Two operating rooms
24-person hospital ward
100 casualty overflow
Maximum Speed:
22+ knots
Weapons Systems:
Mark 41 16-cell vertical launch missile system for evolved Sea Sparrow missile
Mark 31 Mod 0, Rolling Airframe missile launchers
Two Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS
Mark 38 25mm machine guns
Mark 26 0.50 calibre machine guns
Countermeasures:
AN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed decoy system
Mark 36 Mod 18 Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Chaff (SRBOC) launchers
Nulka decoy countermeasures
Raytheon AN/SLQ-32Q(V) system
TISS
Radar:
AN/SPS-48E
AN/APQ-9B
AN/SPS-64(V)9
AN/SPS-67(V)3
Crew:
Ship's crew, 422; officer accomodation, 190;
accomodation for enlisted men, 1038
Ships:
San Antonio (LPD 17), commissioned September 2002
New Orleans (LPD 18), to be commissioned Summer 2003
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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T-ACS - Experimental Cran
Function: The auxiliary crane ships are Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force ships that can be quickly available to support military sea transportation needs. These self-sustaining ships are useful in ports that have limited, damaged or undeveloped port facilities.
History: The ten Keystone State Class ships are conversion crane ships the first of which was completed in 1984 and the last of which was completed in 1997. Five of the ships were deployed to the Arabian Gulf in 1990-91. USNS Gopher State acted as a temporary Army prepositioning ship in 1994.
Description: The auxiliary crane ships are converted container ships with three twin boom pedestal cranes which can lift containers or other cargo from themselves or adjacent vessels and deposit the cargo on a pier or lighterage.
General Characteristics, T-ACS
Builders:
Defoe SB Co, Bay City
Dillingham SR, Portland
Norshipco, Norfolk
Tampa SY
Keith Ship Repair, New Orleans
Power Plant:
Two boilers; two GE turbines; 19,250 hp; one shaft
Length, Overall:
668.6 feet (203.79 meters)
Beam:
76.1 feet (23.20 meters)
Displacement:
31,500 long tons (32,005.52 metric tons) full load
Cargo Capacity:
300+ standard containers
Speed:
20 knots (23.02 mph, 37.05 kph)
Crew:
89 civilians
Ships:
USNS Keystone State (ex-SS President Harrison) (T-ACS 1)
USNS Gem State (ex-SS President Monroe) (T-ACS 2)
USNS Grand Canyon State (ex-SS President Polk) (T-ACS 3)
USNS Gopher State (ex-Export Leader) (T-ACS 4)
USNS Flickertail State (ex-Export Lightening) (T-ACS 5)
USNS Cornhusker State (ex-Staghound) (T-ACS 6)
USNS Diamond State (ex-President Truman) (T-ACS 7)
USNS Equality State (ex-American Banker) (T-ACS 8)
USNS Green Mountain State (ex-American Altair) (T-ACS 9)
USNS Beaver State (ex-American Draco) (T-ACS 10)
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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T-AFS - Mars Class Combat
Function: Six combat stores ships operated by Military Sealift Command provide supplies, including frozen, chilled and dry provisions, to U.S. Navy combatant ships at sea for extended periods of time.
History: The USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) became the first of five Navy Mars class ships to be transferred to Military Sealift Command on Oct. 15, 1992. The Mars followed on Feb. 1, 1993, USNS San Diego on Aug. 11, 1993, the USNS San Jose on Nov. 2, 1993 and the USNS Niagara Falls on Sept. 23, 1994. The San Diego was deactivated on Dec. 10, 1997, and the Mars was deactivated on Feb. 12, 1998. The USNS Sirius (T-AFS 8) was transferred from the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary to MSC on Jan. 18, 1981; the USNS Spica (T-AFS 9) on Nov. 5, 1981; and the USNS Saturn (T-AFS 10) on Dec. 13, 1983.
Description: Combat stores ships provide underway replenishment of all types of supplies, ranging from repair parts to fresh food, clothing and mail via tensioned cargo rigs and UH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.
General Characteristics, Mars Class
Builders:
National Steel and Shipbuilding Co, San Diego, CA
Power Plant:
Three Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 580 psi (40.8 kg/cm2); 8250F (4400C); one De Laval turbine (Westinghouse in TAFS 6); 22,000 hp (16.4MW) sustained; one shaft
Length, Overall:
581 feet (177.09 meters)
Beam:
79 feet (24.08 meters)
Displacement:
9,200 long tons (9,347.64 metric tons) light
15,900-18,663 long tons (16,155.17 - 18,962.51 metric tons) full load
Speed:
21 knots (24.17 mph, 38.90 kph)
Crew:
49 Navy personnel, 125 civilians
Aircraft:
Two UH-46E Sea Knight helicopters (cargo normally embarked)
Ships:
USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS 3)
USNS Concord (T-AFS 5)
USNS San Jose (T-AFS 7)
General Characteristics, Sirius Class
Builders:
Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend-on-Tyne, UK
Power Plant:
One Wallsend-Sulzer 8RD76 diesel, 11,520 horsepower (8.59 MW); one shaft
Length, Overall:
524 feet (159.72 meters)
Beam:
72 feet (21.95 meters)
Displacement:
9,010 long tons (9,154.59 metric tons) light
16,792 long tons (17,061.48 metric tons) full load
Speed:
19 knots (21.85 mph, 35.20 kph)
Crew:
49 Navy personnel, 115 civilians
Aircraft:
Two UH-46E Sea Knight helicopters (cargo normally embarked)
Ships:
USNS Sirius (T-AFS 8)
USNS Spica (T-AFS 9)
USNS Saturn (T-AFS 10)
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David
Sat January 3, 2004 10:35pm
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TAK - Container Ships
Function: Container ships are part of Military Sealift Command's Prepositioning Program. The MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett is prepositioned in the Western Mediterranean Sea and carries U.S. Air Force cargo. The MV LTC Calvin P. Titus and the MV SP5 Eric G. Gibson are located in Saipan and carry U.S. Army support equipment and supplies. The newest container ship MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher joined the MSC fleet in September 1999 and was officially named on October 15, 1999.
History: The MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett was built in 1984 by Samsung Shipbuilding. The MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher and MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett are owned and operated by Sealift, Inc. and are under charter to Military Sealift Command. The MV LTC Calvin P. Titus and MV SP5 Eric G. Gibson were completed in 1985 by Odense Steel Shipyard. The original Titus and Gibson were chartered in 1995 by MSC. They were replaced in the summer of 1999 by the present Titus and Gibson, which are owned and operated by Osprey-Acomarit Ship Management.
Description: The MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett, MV LTC Calvin P. Titus, MV SP5 Eric G. Gibson and MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher are self-sustaining, meaning they have cranes which allow them to load and off-load themselves. This is an asset in ports with primitive, undeveloped or battle-damaged harbors.
General Characteristics, Capt. Steven L. Bennett
Builders:
Samsung Shipbuilding
Power Plant:
One diesel, one shaft
Length, Overall:
687 feet (209.40 meters)
Beam:
99.7 feet (30.39 meters)
Displacement:
53,727.26 long tons (54,589.48 metric tons) full load
Speed:
16.5 knots (18.99 mph, 30.56 kph)
Crew:
26 civilians
General Characteristics, LTC Calvin P. Titus Class
Builders:
Odense Steel Shipyard, Odense, Denmark
Power Plant:
23,030 SHP Sulzer, Model 7RTA76; one shaft
Length, Overall:
652 feet (198.73 meters)
Beam:
105 feet (32 meters)
Displacement:
48,000 long tons (14,000 metric tons) full load
Speed:
19 knots (maximum speed)
Crew:
25 civilians
Ships:
MV LTC Calvin P. Titus (T-AK 5089)
MV SP5 Eric G. Gibson (T-AK 5091)
MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (T-AK 4396)
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