USNS Lawrence H. Gianella
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2008) |
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | USNS Lawrence H. Gianella |
| Builder | American Ship Building Company, Tampa, Florida |
| Launched | 1985 |
| In service | 22 April 1986 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 39,624 long tons (40,260 t) full |
| Length | 615 ft (187 m) |
| Beam | 90 ft (27 m) |
| Draft | 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 × 5-cylinder Sulzer 5RTA 76 diesel engine, 18,400 hp (13.7 MW), 1 shaft |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Capacity | 237,766 bbl (37,801.8 m3) |
| Complement | 24 contract mariners |
| Armament | None |
USNS Lawrence H. Gianella (T-AOT-1125) is a United States Military Sealift Command product tanker which typically carries diesel, gasoline, and JP5 (jet fuel). Its reinforced bow allows it to occasionally make the yearly fuel delivery to McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
Name origin
The vessel is named for Radio Operator Lawrence H. Gianella who was posthumously awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal in 1943 for the heroic action he undertook when his ship was torpedoed on 19 December 1941 in mid-Pacific. Orders had been given to abandon the rapidly sinking ship but Gianella - realizing that his shipmates chances of rescue were slim and dependent on him getting out an SOS message - stayed on board and rigged an emergency radio set, thus sacrificing himself for his shipmates.[1][2]
References
- ^ Rose Adelle Gianella, Sister
External links
- Lawrence H. Gianella (T-AOT 1125) at the Naval Vessel Register
- USNS Lawrence H. Gianella (T-AOT 1125) entry at Military Sealift Command Ship Inventory
- US Navy Fact File on Transport Tankers - T-AOT
- Photo gallery of USNS Lawrence H. Gianella at NavSource Naval History