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Resupply Ship Sacagawea Christened in San Diego

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060628-15
Release Date: 6/28/2006 5:15:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jenness Stevens, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Dry cargo and ammunition ship Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) was christened and launched into San Diego Bay during a twilight ceremony at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard here June 24.

The 689-foot resupply ship is named for a Native American from the Lemhi Shoshone tribe who served as guide and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Congressman Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, was the principal speaker at the ceremony. “This is a blessed country, and we are blessed by these first Americans who are first to fight for our freedom,” Hunter said. “This ship acknowledges, because of its name, the tremendous contribution that has been made by Native Americans to our country.”

The mission of the ship is to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to strike groups and other naval forces.

Rear Adm. Robert Reilly, Jr., commander of Military Sealift Command, said the diverse capabilities of Sacagawea will enable other commands to remain focused on their duties.

“The unique qualities of this ship – one-stop shopping for our carrier and expeditionary strike groups, providing ammunition, spare parts, food and fuel – will be matched by the unique qualities of her crew, civil service mariners committed to freedom, democracy and the memory of a young Indian woman who made a difference in her world and the world around her,” Reilly said.

Jeannette Wolfley and Rachel Lynne Ariwite, familial descendants of Sacagawea, broke bottles of champagne over the bow to formally name the ship.

Rear Adm. Charles S. Hamilton, U.S. Navy program executive officer for ships, said the vessel is dedicated to the spirit of the 190,000 Native American veterans who answered the call to duty when the nation needed them the most.

“It is my fervent wish that this ship will always honor the service and the sacrifice of the Native American people. And that this indomitable spirit, that of true warriors and patriots, will sail with her and forever guide, inspire and protect her through her service life,” Hamilton said.

The second ship of the Lewis and Clark class, Sacagawea is expected to be completed and delivered to the Navy in 2007. Traveling at a speed of 20 knots, Sacagawea will have a maximum dry cargo capability of 6,675 metric tons and carry up to 23,450 barrels of fuel and 52,800 gallons of water. The ship displaces more than 40,000 tons.

The dry cargo ammunition ship is the third Navy vessel named Sacagawea. The previous two vessels served as harbor tugboats during World War II.

Additional information about this class of ship is available by visiting the following link www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=500&ct=4.