• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
FY97 Annual Report

STRATEGIC SEALIFT PROGRAM (SSP)

	Navy ACAT IC Program 19 systems Total program cost (TY$) $5725M Average unit cost (TY$) $299M Full-rate production 2QFY94 Prime Contractor Avondale Industries National Steel & Shipbuilding Company Newport News Shipbuilding

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

Strategic Sealift Program (SSP) is a focused logistics Program that provides ships to transport or afloat pre-positioned logistic support for a projected military force. This mission is a vital part of dominant maneuver in the current power projection environment. The representative cargo per ship encompasses equipment for one-third of a heavy Army brigade task force and its supporting supplies. SSP projects and sustains the force by providing 'strategically.mobile forces,' "ready on arrival."

The SSP ships are Large (950 feet long, 106 feet wide, 55,000 long ton displacement), Medium Speed (24 knots), Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) vessels referred to as LMSR. The sealift ships will be capable of self-sustained RO/RO and Lift on/Lift off (LO/LO) operations at a pier and in a Logistics-Over-the Shore (LOTS) scenario through stern and side port ramps to a RO/RO Discharge Facility (RRDF). In addition, the LMSR will be capable of self-sustained LO/LO cargo operations in a LOTS scenario by interfacing with lighterage.

The LMSR ships are not armed, and do not have a combat system. They do have C3I suite sufficient to perform their intended mission in conjunction with other Naval vessels.

The program currently has 19 ships, 5 of which will be conversions of existing commercial container vessels, and 14 of which will be newly constructed ships. All 19 ships use common cargo handling systems, procured by the Navy. LMSRs are being built by three contractors. A performance type procurement description was used, therefore specific ship configurations differ as the respective builders interpret the mission requirements.

The current TEMP was approved in June 1996. In view of the single ship mission and similarities in the LMSR configurations, the test approach is for a single ship class, with four "flights." A mix of OT events and operational assessments will address the minor hardware variance.

As non-developmental items, developmental testing has been limited, focusing on production assurance testing in conjunction with the builders. Systems and integration testing is witnessed by Navy, US Coast Guard, and American Bureau of Shipping representatives.

Operational Testing (OT-IIA) of the LSMR conversion was planned and administered in accordance with the DOT&E approved TEMP and OT Plan. OT-IIA was conducted during September 1996, aboard United States Naval Ship (USNS) Shughart (T-AKR 295) at Savannah, GA and Norfolk, VA. The OT was conducted in conjunction with a planned Army sealift deployment exercise which moved a representative load of Army equipment (over 1,000 pieces and included tanks, trucks and various helicopters) from the 3d Infantry Division in Savannah, GA to Fort Story, VA.

The Multi-service Test Team (MTT) completed their evaluation of the first strategic sealift conversion ship and released their report on March 12, 1997. The Navy evaluators found the USNS SHUGHART operationally effective and operationally suitable. The Army evaluators found the ship operationally effective and partially operationally suitable. Army reservations were based on characteristics which could not be tested during the combined training and testing evolution, notably the cargo climate control system.

An operational assessment of USNS Gordon is being conducted by the MTT. This assessment will add data to the class assessment and will confirm the effectiveness and suitability of the conversion ships from another prime contractor.

In accordance with the currently approved TEMP, further operational testing is scheduled for USNS BOB HOPE in July 1998. This test will be conducted in conjunction with a planned Army sealift deployment exercise and focus on the prepositioned sealift mission and new construction ship effectiveness. In addition, some testing will be conducted aboard deployed conversion ships to further evaluate operational suitability.

Based on the results of OT-IIA, the strategic sealift ship (conversion) is assessed to be operationally effective and potentially operationally suitable. No significant deficiencies were observed. The overall class assessment will be made upon completion of the OT-IIB event and an operational assessment of the USNS WATSON. The class assessment will address the ship configurations from all three prime contractors. Data on ship operations in climate extremes should be available from deployed ships of the class.