John Lewis-class replenishment oiler

The John Lewis class is a future class of fleet replenishment oilers which began construction in September 2018.[1] The class will comprise twenty oilers which will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide underway replenishment of fuel and limited amounts of dry cargo to United States Navy Carrier Strike Groups, Amphibious ready groups, and other surface forces to allow them to operate worldwide.[2]

Artist rendering of USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205)
Class overview
Name: John Lewis class
Builders: General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO)
Preceded by: Henry J. Kaiser class
Planned: 20
Building: 2
General characteristics
Type: Fleet replenishment oiler
Displacement: 49,850 tons full load
Length: 746 ft (227.4 m)
Beam: 106 ft 5 in (32.4 m)
Draft: 33.5 ft (10.2 m) maximum
Propulsion: Two medium-speed Fairbanks-Morse MAN 12V48/60CR diesel engines, two shafts, propellers
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Endurance: 6,147 nmi (11,384 km; 7,074 mi)
Complement: 125 total
Electronic warfare
& decoys:		 AN/SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures
Armament:
Aviation facilities: Helicopter flight deck
Notes:
  • 5 refueling stations
  • 2 dry cargo transfer rigs

Design

The John Lewis-class ships will be double-hulled ships that are being constructed to commercial standards and OPNAVINST 9070.1 requirements, and will be classed to American Bureau of Shipping steel vessel rules.[3] The ships will have capabilities similar to the Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers and will rely on existing technology.[4] The ships can carry 156,000 barrels of oil and have increased dry cargo storage over the Henry J. Kaiser class.[5] There will be stations on both sides of each ship for underway replenishment of fuel and stores, and will have two dry cargo transfer rigs. The John Lewis-class ships will have limited means of self-defense when delivered, including defenses against mines and torpedoes, and will be equipped with crew-served weapons which will be operated by embarked Navy Expeditionary Security Teams for limited self-defense ability against small boat attack. The ships will have space, weight, and power reserved for additional self-defense systems, including close-in weapon systems (CIWS) or SeaRAM, and an anti-torpedo torpedo defense system. Even with additional self-defense systems installed the ships will still require escort if operating in a higher threat environment.[4]

History

On June 30, 2016, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) was awarded detailed design and construction for six John Lewis-class replenishment oilers.[6] NASSCO began construction on John Lewis on September 20, 2018, and began construction on Harvey Milk on September 3, 2020.[7] In January 2020 it was announced the lead ship delivery estimate had been delayed from November 2020 until June 2021 due to delays in delivery of gear and flooding of a graving dock.[4]

Naming

The class is named for its lead unit, USNS John Lewis, which in turn is named for the American politician and civil rights leader John Lewis. The remaining John Lewis-class oilers will be named after prominent civil rights activists and leaders.[4]

Ships
ShipHull. No.Status
John Lewis T-AO-205Under construction
Harvey Milk T-AO-206Under construction
Earl Warren T-AO-207On order
Robert F. Kennedy T-AO-208On order
Lucy Stone T-AO-209On order
Sojourner Truth T-AO-210On order

References
  1. "Fleet Replenishment Oilers T-AO". www.navy.mil. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. "Report to Congress on Requirements for the Fleet Replenishment Oiler, T-AO(X)" (PDF). Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  3. Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) T-AO 205 John Lewis Class Fleet Replenishment Oiler (T-AO 205 Class). Department of Defense. p. 14.
  4. "Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). fas.org. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  5. "John Lewis-Class (TAO-205) Replenishment Oiler Ships". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  6. "General Dynamics NASSCO Awarded Contract to Build Next Generation of U.S. Navy Fleet Oilers". nassco.com. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  7. "General Dynamics NASSCO Begins Construction on First Ship in the T-AO Fleet Oiler Program for U.S. Navy". nassco.com. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
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