USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), the Navy’s lead ship of its new class of fleet replenishment oilers, conducted initial Builder’s Trials and returned to port, Feb. 4, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo.
General Dynamics NASSCO has delivered the future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), the second ship in the U.S. Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.
Delivery to the Navy took place during a signing ceremony at NASSCO-San Diego on Tuesday.
The new John Lewis-class T-AOs will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide diesel fuel and lubricating oil, and small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions, stores, and potable water to Navy ships at sea, as well as jet fuel for aircraft. The 742-foot-long oilers have the capacity to carry 157,000 barrels of oil, a significant dry cargo capacity, aviation capability, and can operate at up to 20 knots.
NASSCO has been contracted for the first nine ships in the 20-ship John Lewis-class program. A $736 million contract option for the ninth vessel was awarded in May, bringing the total contract value to approximately $5.5 billion for the nine ships. All will be named after civil rights leaders.
The first ship in the class, the USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), was delivered to the Navy in July 2021.
The John Lewis vessels are expected to add replenishment capabilities to the US Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and eventually become primary assets of the service’s fuel delivery system.
Four additional ships of the class are still under construction by General Dynamics: the future Earl Warren (T-AO 207), Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208), Lucy Stone (T-AO 209), and Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210).
The $1.4-billion contract for the future Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), and the unmanned T-AO 213 was awarded to the company in August 2022.
Currently, the US Navy plans to procure a total of 20 John Lewis-class ships.