USNS Gilliland (T-AKR-298)

USNS Gilliland (T-AKR-298) is a Gordon-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship of the United States Navy. She was originally built as a merchant vessel but later acquired and converted by the Navy, and assigned to the United States Department of Defense's Military Sealift Command.[1] Gilliland was built in 1972 as MV Selandia. After some time spent in commercial service she was lengthened by Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1984, and later went on to be acquired by the US Navy under a long term charter. She was converted to a US Navy Vehicle Roll-on/Roll-off Ship at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia, in a contract dated 23 May 1997 and on completion was assigned to the Military Sealift Command under the name USNS Gilliland, after Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Charles L. Gilliland. Gilliland is one of 28 Strategic Sealift Ships operated by the Military Sealift Command. She is assigned to the MSC Atlantic surge force, and is maintained in Ready Operational Status 4.

History
United States
Name: USNS Gilliland
Operator: Military Sealift Command
Builder: Burmeister & Wain Shipyard Denmark
Launched: 21 April 1972
Renamed: Built as MV Selandia in 1972 and lengthened by Hyundai in 1984
Identification:
Status: In active service, as of 2014
General characteristics
Class and type: Gordon-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship
Displacement: 32,589 t.(lt) 65,000 t.(fl)
Length: 954 ft (291 m)
Beam: 105 ft 9 in (32.23 m)
Draft: 36 ft (11 m)
Propulsion:
  • 1 × Burmeister & Wain 12K84EF diesel
  • 26,000 hp(m) (19.11 MW)
  • 2 × Burmeister & Wain 9K84EF diesels, 39,000 hp(m) (28.66 MW)
  • 3 shafts (center cp prop) bow thruster
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h)
Capacity:
  • 284,064 sq ft (26,390.4 m2)
  • 49,991 sq ft (4,644.3 m2) deck cargo
Complement:
  • 12 reduced / up to 45 full, civilian mariners
  • 50 US Navy personnel

In June 1996, a sudden windstorm caused Gilliland to break free from her mooring at Newport News, cross the harbor, and collide with the submarine USS Tucson (SSN-770) at her moorings and the destroyer USS Deyo (DD-989),[2] which was moored behind Tucson. While Deyo suffered the most damage, Tucson suffered only minor damage.

References
  1. "USNS Gilliland (T-AKR-298)". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  2. damagecontrolmuseums.org USS DEYO (DD 989) and USNS GILLILAND (T-AKR 298), Collision, June 1996
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