USNS Brittin is First of its Kind to Visit Guam
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080731-03
Release Date: 7/31/2008 12:42:00 PM
By Jesse Leon Guerrero, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas Public Affairs
SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- USNS Brittin (T-AKR 305) visited Guam July 16-17 to take on cargo - the first ship of its kind to do so.
The large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ship (LMSR) and others of its kind have never stopped on Guam for loading operations, so it takes a lot of the guess work out of future mission planning, said Gordon Lowe, director of Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Guam.
"We're able to validate the base here to berth a ship of this type and size."
At close to 950-feet in length, the LMSR is nearly the size of an aircraft carrier and can carry dozens of heavy vehicles such as tanks and trucks to fill its more than 300,000-square feet of cargo space.
Aside from also being designed to transport food, water, fuel and other types of supplies, Brittin's potential for military support includes the ability to move mass amounts of troops and other personnel for humanitarian or combat missions.
"The future here on Guam with Marine units coming in is that they need to be moved by sea," said Lowe, referring to the region's plans for transitioning thousands of Marines from Okinawa to Guam within less than 10 years. "This is the type of ship that would be used to move those forces."
Among the many features that make that kind of strategic sealift and transportation support effective are the stern ramp that allows vehicles to be driven on and off the ship quickly, cranes for lifting 110 tons and a helicopter deck for emergency landings.
"It's better that we do this now, so we know where we need to improve and how we can prepare for future requirements."
For more news from U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, visit www.navy.mil/local/guam/.
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