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T-AKE Class awarded to San Diego Shipyard

NAVSEA News Wire

Release Date: 1/30/2004

By Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON, DC -- NAVSEA announced, January 27, 2004, the award of fixed-price-incentive options totaling $578,206,817 for the design and construction of the fifth and sixth ships in the Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship (T-AKE) Class to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, Calif.

The T-AKE Class Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship will provide a two product, ammunition and combat stores - including dry stores, frozen and chilled products, spare parts and consumables, shuttle ship replacement for the aging Combat Store (AFS) and Ammunition (AE) shuttle ships. T-AKE also provides logistics lift to station ships and other ships operating with naval forces from supply sources, such as friendly ports, and at sea from merchant vessels.

In its shuttle ship role, T-AKE will provide logistics lift to station ships and other ships operating with naval forces from supply sources, such as friendly ports, and at sea from Modular Cargo Delivery System (MCDC) equipped merchant vessels. Working in concert with an Oiler ship (T-AO), the pair can perform a "substitute" station ship mission that will allow the retirement of the Fast Combat Support ships (AOE 1 Class).

Beginning in 1992, the ammunition carrying capability declined when the AE 21/23 Class commenced decommissioning. Additionally, the AE 26 and AFS 1/8 Classes are rapidly approaching the end of their 35-year service lives.

T-AKE is the solution to this degradation in supply support. With the exception of Navy standard underway replenishment equipment, communication and aviation facilities, and passive protection features, the class will be designed and built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) classification standards and certified to United States Coast Guard (USCG) safety requirements. The ship will be manned by Government civilian mariners and operated by the Military Sea lift Command (MSC) with a small military detachment assigned to each ship.

Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine will be a subcontractor providing machinery outfit modules for ships three through 12. The contract provides for full funding of the detail design and construction of the fifth and sixth ships of the T-AKE 1 Class. Including options, a total of twelve ships may be built under the contract.