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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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
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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1st Army Air Force
Worn from 18 January 1944 to 23 June 1958.
This organization trained replacements for combat units and provided air defense for the eastern United States. The design is the wing and star, symbol for the air force with an Arabic number one representing the unit's designation. Activated 9 April 1941, Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York.
Campaigns:
American Theater.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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3rd Army Air Force
Worn from 1 September 1943 to 1 November 1946.
This organization trained units, crews, and individuals for bombardment, fire, and reconnaissance operations. It was involved in air-defense operations as well as activities involving antisubmarine warfare. The out-side border is golden yellow with the unit designation shown by an Arabic number three projecting skyward as if framed by a search light beam. The star in the center is symbolic of army air forces. Activated 9 April 1941, Tampa, Florida.
Campaigns:
Antisubmarine, American Theater.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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7th Army Air Force
Worn from 21 May 1943 to 1 July 1957
Originally constituted as Hawaiian Air Force on 19 October 1940, this unit provided air defense for the Hawaiian Islands and, after mid 1943, served in combat in the central and western Pacific areas. The star on a blue disk represents the army air forces and the Arabic numeral seven is the unit's designation. Activated 5 February 1942, Hickam Field, Hawaii.
Campaigns:
WWII (Central Pacific: Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus; China Offensive.)
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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10th Army Air Force
Worn from 25 January 1944 to mid 1950's
The Tenth Air Force served in India, Burma, and China until March 1943 when the Fourteenth Air Force was activated in China. Then the Tenth operated in India and Burma until it moved to China toward the end of the war. On a sky-blue disk, a winged shield, with the Arabic number ten superimposed, and the star above are brought together to symbolize the army air forces. Activated 12 February 1942, Patterson Field, Ohio.
Campaigns:
WWII (Burma, 1942; India-Burma; China Defensive; Central Burma; China Offensive).
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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13th Army Air Force
Worn from 18 January 1944 to May 1955
The Thirteenth Air force served in the South Pacific and, later, the Southwest Pacific, participating in the allied drive north and west from the Solomon's to the Philippines. The winged star is the symbol for army air forces. The Arabic number thirteen is the numerical designation of the unit. Activated 13 January 1943 at Noumea, New Caledonia.
Campaigns:
WWII (China Defensive, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Northern Solomon's, Eastern Mandate, Bismarck Archipelago, Western Pacific, Leyte, Luzon, Southern Philippines, China Offensive.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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15th Army Air Force
Worn from 19 February 1944 to mid 1950's
Activated in the Mediterranean Theater on 1 November 1943, the Fifteenth Air Force began operations on 2 November and engaged primarily in strategic bombardment of targets in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans until the end of the war. The winged star symbolizes the army air forces. The Arabic number fifteen indicates the unit's designation. Activated 1 November 1943 at Tunis, Tunisia.
Campaigns:
WWII (Air combat, European-African-Middle East theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; north Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; and Po Valley).
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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Twentieth Army Air Force
Worn from 26 May 1944 to 1 March 1955.
Some combat elements of this unit moved in the summer of 1944 from the United States to India where they carried out very heavy bombardment operations against targets in Japan, Formaosa, Thiland, and Burma. Other combeat elements began moving late in 1944 from the US to the Marianas, being jo8ined there early in 1945 by the elements that had been in India. From the Marianaas, the Twentieth bonducted a strategic air offensive that was climaxed by the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan. This unit also served in combat for a short time at the beginning of the Korean War. Among the commanders of this air force were General of the Army, Henery H. "Hap" Arnold, Major General Curtis E. LeMay and Lietenant General Nathan F. Twining. The winged star represents the army air forces, and the arabic number twenty is the unit's designation. Both are superimposed upon a globe. Activated 4 April 1944 at Washington D.C.
Campaigns:
WWII (American thater; India-Burma; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Central Burma).
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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9th Army Air Force
Worn from 16 September 1943 to August 1954
The Ninth Air Force began operations on 12 November 1942 by participating in the Allied drive across Egypt and Libya, the Campaign in Tunisia, and the invasion of Sicily and Italy. In addition, they helped prepare for the assault on Normandy and supported operations on the beach. They took part in the drive that carried the Allies across France and culminated in victory over Germany in May 1945. On an ultramarine blue background, the United States Army Air Force star sits above a winged Arabic number nine, which is the unit's designation. Activated 8 April 1942, New Orleans Army Air Base, Louisiana.
Campaigns:
WWI (American theater; Air Combat, Europe-African-Middle East theater; Egypt-Libya; Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; and Central Europe).
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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8th Army Air Force
Worn from 20 May 1943 to June 1955
This unit was constituted as VIII Bomber Command on 19 January 1942. The command conducted the heavy bombardment operations of Eighth Air Force Bomber Command until redesignated Eight Air Force 22 February 1944. Afterward, it engaged primarily in the bombardment of strategic targets in Europe, becoming the allied air offensive's daylight precision bombing force. After returning to the United States on 7 June 1946, it became part of the Strategic Air Command. Among the commanders of this famous organization was Major Genera Ira C. Eaker and Lieutenant Genera James H. Doolittle. The winged star represents the army air forces. The Arabic numeral eight indicates the unit's designation. Activated 28 January 1942, Savannah, Georgia.
Campaigns:
WWI (Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Asiatic-Pacific theater).
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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12th Army Air Force
Worn from 1 December 1943 to January 1958
This unit participated in the invasion of Algeria and French Morocco and then operated in the Mediterranean theater until the end o the war. The Arabic number twelve, the unit's designation, is superimposed on the winged star, the symbol of the army air forces. The background is ultramarine blue representing the sky. Activated 20 August 1942 at Bolling Field, Washington D.C.
Campaigns:
WWII (Air Combat, European-African-Middle East theater; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley).
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:03pm
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11th Army Air Force
Worn from 13 August 1943 to 1 July 1948.
The Eleventh Air Force was constituted as the Alaskan Air Force on 28 December 1941 before it was redesignated in February of 1942, It participated in the offensive that drove the Japanese from the Aleutians, attacked the enemy in the Kuril Islands, and, both during and after the war, served as part of the defense force of Alaska. The patch has a winged star in flight on a blue (sky) background with the Arabic number eleven, which is the unit's designation. Activated 5 February 1942 at Elmendorf Field, Alaska.
Campaigns:
WWII (Air Offensive, Japan; Aleutian Islands)
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:22pm
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Third Armored Division
Worn from: 15 April 1941 to 1991
Tab "Spearhead"
Activated at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. The Arabic number three represents the division's designation. The tab recalls the numerous times when the Third was called upon to "spearhead the attack."
Campaigns:
WWII (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe), Armed Forces Expeditions (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).
Decorations:
Presidential Unit Citation WWII (streamer embroidered MONS), French Croix de Guerre with Palm (streamer embroidered MONS), Belgian Fourragere 1940, cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in Belgium and action in the Ardennes.
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David
Thu January 8, 2004 3:22pm
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Fourth Armored Division
Worn from 15 April 1941 to 10 May 1971
Tab: "Breakthrough"
Activated at Pine Camp, New York. The Arabic number four shows the division's designation. The division had no official nickname because the Commanding General refused to propose andy in the belief that, "They shall be known by their deeds alone". The fourth Armored Division fought in five campaigns, 230 days of combat, and eaarned great praise including General Patton's, who stated that the accomplishment of the 4th Armored Division "had never been equalled in the history of warfare."
Campaigns: WWII (Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe)
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