USNS Amelia Earhart
 USNS Amelia Earhart at sea, October 2009
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 USA | |
| Name | USNS Amelia Earhart |
| Namesake | Amelia Earhart |
| Awarded | 27 January 2004 |
| Builder | National Steel and Shipbuilding Company |
| Laid down | 30 May 2007 |
| Launched | 6 April 2008 |
| Sponsored by | Amy Kleppner |
| In service | 30 October 2008 |
| Status | Template:Ship fate box active in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Lewis and Clark-class cargo ship |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 23,852 tons light, 40,298 tons full, 16,446 tons dead |
| Length | list error: <br /> list (help) 210 m (689 ft) overall, 199.3 m (654 ft) waterline |
| Beam | list error: <br /> list (help) 32.3 m (106 ft) extreme, 32.3 m (106 ft) waterline |
| Draft | list error: <br /> list (help) 9.1 m (30 ft) maximum, 9.4 m (31 ft) limit |
| Propulsion | Integrated propulsion and ship service electrical system, with generation at 6.6 kV by FM/MAN B&W diesel generators; one fixed pitch propeller; bow thruster |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Range | list error: <br /> list (help) 14,000 nautical miles at 20 kt (26,000 km at 37 km/h) |
| Capacity | list error: <br /> list (help) • Max dry cargo weight: 5,910 long tons (6,005 t) • Max dry cargo volume: 783,000 cubic feet (22,000 m³) • Max cargo fuel weight: 2,350 long tons (2,390 t) • Cargo fuel volume: 18,000 barrels (2,900 m³) (DFM: 10,500) (JP5:7,500) |
| Complement | 49 military, 123 civilian |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | Nulka decoy launchers |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 2–6 × 12.7 mm machine guns or 7.62 mm medium machine guns |
| Aircraft carried | two helicopters, either Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk or Aerospatiale Super Puma |
USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE-6), a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for noted American aviation pioneer and women's rights advocate Amelia Earhart (1897–1937). The contract to build the ship was awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) of San Diego, California, on 27 January 2004. Her keel was laid down at the end of May, 2007 at General Dynamics' NASSCO shipyard. In early 2007, Dr. Alex Mandel, PhD. along with members of the "Amelia Earhart Society" and "Amelia Earhart Research Association" successfully petitioned the Department of the Navy to have his ship named in honor of Amelia Earhart.
At 9 p.m. 6 April 2008, a ceremony was held to christen the USS Amelia Earhart with the honors of breaking the traditional bottle of champagne given to Amelia Earhart's niece, Amy Kleppner.[1] The new ship is designed to deliver ammunition, food, clothing, medical supplies, and other dry cargo to American and Allied warships at sea. It will be crewed by 124 civil service mariners and, at times, will include an additional compliment of military personnel. She carries two cargo helicopters for replenishment of other ships at sea by airlift, and for other purposes, such as search and rescue.
References
- ^ "USNS Amelia Earhart to be christened by famed pilot's niece". signonsandiego.com. 2008-04-05. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
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This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
External links
- "USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- Priolo, Gary P. (2 May 2008). "T-AKE-6 Amelia Earhart". Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource Online. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
