Fast combat support ship
Encyclopedia
The fast combat support ship (AOE) is the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

's largest combat logistics ship, designed as an oiler, ammunition and supply ship. All fast combat support ships currently in service are operated by Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...

 (MSC). The AOE has the speed and armament to keep up with carrier battle groups. It rapidly replenishes Navy task forces and can carry more than 177000 barrels (28,140,751.2 l) of oil, 2,150 tons of ammunition, 500 tons of dry stores and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. It receives petroleum products, ammunition and stores from shuttle ships and redistributes these items simultaneously to carrier battle group ships. This reduces the vulnerability of serviced ships by reducing alongside time.

Congress appropriated the funds for the lead ship of T-AOE 6 (Supply class
Supply class fast combat support ship
The Supply class fast combat support ships is a class of four United States Navy supply ships used to refuel, rearm, and restock ships in the United States Navy in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.-Ships:-General characteristics:...

)
in 1987. The AOE 1, (Sacramento) class, was retired in late 2005, making the Supply class the only ship class currently in this ship classification.

displace 48,800 tons full load and operate two Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters.

The four ships of the were larger at 53,000 tons full load and carried two Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters

See also

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