Description
High-speed vessel, designed as oiler, ammunition and supply ship.

Features
The fast combat support ship (AOE) has the speed to keep up with the carrier battle groups. It rapidly replenishes Navy task forces and can carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil; 2,150 tons of ammunition; 500 tons of dry stores; and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. It receives petroleum products, ammunition and stores from shuttle ships and redistributes these items simultaneously to carrier battle group ships. This reduces the vulnerability of serviced ships by reducing alongside time. Congress appropriated the funds for the lead ship of the AOE 6 (Supply class) in 1987. Supply was decommissioned on 13 July 2001 and was transferred to Military Sealift Command where she was placed back in service as a "United States Naval Ship." Her sister ship Arctic (AOE 8) was transferred to MSC in June 2002, and Rainier (AOE 7) transferred in August 2003. USNS Bridge (AOE 10) transferred to MSC in June 2004.

Supply-class ships are part of MSC's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force. The Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force began in 1972 with the transfer of the fleet oiler Taluga to MSC after a series of tests showed civilian crews could operate the Navy's fleet support ships more efficiently than Navy sailors. The impressive cost savings resulting from the use of MSC civilian crews continues to grow each year as Military Sealift Command assumes more of the Navy's combat logistics role.

General Characteristics, Supply Class

Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.
Propulsion: Four GE LM2500 gas-turbines; 2 shafts; 105,000 hp.
Length: 754 feet (229.9 meters).
Beam: 107 feet (32.6 meters).
Displacement: 48,800 tons (49,583.15 metric tons) full load.
Speed: 25 knots.
Crew: 160 civilians, 29 military.
Aircraft: Two CH-46E Sea Knight or MH-60S Seahawk helicopters (normally embarked).
Ships:
USNS Supply (T-AOE 6)
USNS Rainer (T-AOE 7)
USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8)
USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10)