The SSP ships are Large (950 feet long, 106 feet wide, and 55,000 long ton displacement), Medium Speed (24 knots), Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) vessels referred to as LMSR. The sealift ships are expected to 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. In addition, the LMSR is required to 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 a C3I suite sufficient to perform their intended mission in conjunction with other naval vessels.

The program currently plans for 19 ships, five 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. Three contractors are building LMSRs. 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 operational test events and operational assessments will address the minor hardware variance.

As non-developmental items, DT has been limited, focusing on production assurance testing in conjunction with the builders. Systems and integration testing is witnessed by Navy, U.S. 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 operational test (OT-IIB) scheduled for USNS BOB HOPE in July 1998, was rescheduled to 1QFY99 due to cracking cloverleaf tiedowns on the decks of the USNS BOB HOPE.

An OA of USNS WATSON was scheduled for 4QFY98 but was slipped to 1QFY99 due to unscheduled maintenance problems.

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. 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.