This weekend the Upper Bay portion of the sixth boro cradled two “fast logistics ships” or “Large, Medium-speed, Roll-on/Roll-off Ships” (aka T-AKR, although I’ve no idea how that alpha indicator relates to those descriptors; LMSR would make more sense.) at the same time, one off Fort Wadsworth, below) and the other
off Owl’s Head fishing pier. The T-AKR above–USNS Sisler T-AKR-311–was preparing for sea trials at the end of her refurb period, and the one below–USNS Watkins T-AKR-315 was preparing to enter the graving dock in Bayonne to begin hers. Sisler was launched in 1998, and Watkins, 2000, both by NASSCO in San Diego.
I also have questions about the relationship between the MSC–to which these vessels belong–and USNS, unless it is that technically all “ships” serving the USN are referred to as USNS.
Framing from memory, I took what were intended as identical photos of each.
I’m not sure when Sisler will return from her sea trials or
when Watkins will exit the graving dock.
I’m wondering if Sisler will be back in for a final coat of gray to cover what appears to be a primer coat.
All photos by Will Van Dorp, whose previous posts of T-AKRs can be found here.
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July 30, 2019 at 2:37 pm
Les Sonnenmark
Military Sealift Command ships, whether owned or chartered by the Navy, are USNS (United States Naval Ships). The ships are operated by civilian mariners, some of them Navy employees, some of them contractor employees. Those ships are not commisioned Navy ships, so they don’t get the USS (United States Ship) designation. In some cases, uniformed Navy military personnel are embarked on those ships to perform certain duties (e.g., Navy medical personnel aboard the hospital ships), but the Bridge, deck, engineering and stewards department work is performed by civilians. The ships are not armed (other than carrying small arms) and are not considered as combatant vessels.
Regarding the paint color: I don’t know where those ships are going to be stationed, but if they are pre-positioned full of military cargo and sitting in Diego Garcia or other hot locations, painting the superstructure white keeps them much cooler and reduces the need to run the AC chillers. Note that the cargo holds are all climate-controlled, which makes for a huge HVAC plant.
July 30, 2019 at 2:55 pm
Anonymous
Further to the USNS designation: some of the ships began as commissioned Navy ships, manned by military personnel, but then were decommisioned when they were transferred to MSC for operation by civilians. An example is USS SUPPLY (AOE 6), which became USNS SUPPLY (T-AOE 6) in 2001.
July 30, 2019 at 3:14 pm
asrdriver
Great summary by Les. Also, all navy auxilliaries have an A as the first identifier for their hull number. Some are more obvious than others – ASR stands for Auxillary, Submarine Rescue, ARS stands for Auxilliary, Rescue and Salvage, AKR “most likely” stands for Auxilliary, Cargo (C is reserved for aircraft carriers) Ro-Ro – or something close to that.
July 30, 2019 at 6:55 pm
Frank Pierson
T-AKR is a Military sea lift command operated A means auxiliary, K means cargo, and R means vehicle. So it is a vehicle cargo transport. Reconditioning 2 of them means something serious is in the wind.
July 31, 2019 at 5:05 am
tugster
Thx, all. You’ve clarified a number of things here. ‘preciate it.
April 15, 2020 at 3:35 am
Anonymous
I accidentally discovered the USNS Watkins meeting w/ 2 cruise ships that were not allowed to dock outside of Cape Canaveral. The Disney Dream & Carnival Breeze on 4-8-2020. After the 2 hr long meeting the 2 ships were finally in the port which is curious because no cruise ships are allowed to sail or dock since 3-13. Then the ship went to the Zaandam & the Adventure of the seas. Then to Miami. & Hung. Aroundoutside port st lucie.before going to charleston. I contactrd a miami hearld reporter who contacted the navy & they said it was just doing training exercises before going to charleston. I don’t believe that.
April 16, 2020 at 5:21 pm
tugster
Good eye. I’d missed that. I wonder what the story is, or what the training was all about.