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)