USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE-5)

History

The Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/munitions ship is the newest Combat Logistics Force (CLF) class of the U.S. Naval Sealift Command - essentially an ocean-going "grocery store" to refuel - ready for battle. Lewis and Clark (T-AKE-1) is the lead ship of this class, deployed in 2006, the 11th ship of its kind entered service in 2011, and two ships currently under construction (as of 2012) ordered 14.

The T-AKE class is specifically designed to replace the few remaining (and aging) Mars, Sirius and Sacramento class battle battalion ships and Kilauea class ammunition ships.

The T-AKE class is part of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (NFAF) with approximately 124 civilians. These personnel are responsible for basic ship operations as well as the management of the helicopters on board, while approximately 11 military personnel are responsible for the safety and logistics of the ship and cargo.

She is listed as a "dry" cargo vessel - indicating the type of cargo carried - but also supplies petroleum products as well as ammunition, dry cargo, frozen and fresh food, ice cream, soda, ship and helicopter parts, and drinking water for use around the world deployed naval forces. T-AKE currently has the largest cargo hold capacity and flight deck of any combat logistics ship in the world.

As noted, the first 11 ships of this class have been delivered to the US Navy, and two more are under construction, one of which is under contract. The USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE-5) is the fifth of the Lewis and Clark class dry cargo ships, named after Arctic explorer RAdm. Robert E. Peary.

The Peary was built by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Corporation (NASSCO) in San Diego, California, and her official naming ceremony was delayed until February 9, 2008 due to wildfires in California during construction.

Peary has 124 civilians and 12 military contingents. Officers - usually commanders - are in charge of the military portion of the crew and are responsible for the cargo on board and its loading operations. Commanders and joint crews typically have less than 24 hours to unload 360 tons of food, ammunition and spare parts from wagons arriving at the dock. All kinds of food, spare parts and ordered ammunition are transported by sea. Loading fuel and water for the Peary and customers on board will be loaded at the same time to save time.

On some ships, 25 electric forklifts work along the quay, moving cargo pallets to the available cargo nets, which are then lifted onto the ship's deck. A forklift then moves the color-coded pallets to the appropriate storage location onboard.

When and where Peary picks up passengers is entirely dependent on the current needs of the fleet. The military commander communicates the heading, latitude and longitude of the relevant warship to the MSC captain. However, when the two ships meet, they sail on a parallel course to within 150 feet of each other, matching their speeds while maintaining course. A small wire ran from the Peary to pull back a heavy cable, and the fuel hose was bolted between the two ships. Once in place, customer boats receive diesel and jet fuel, pumped by Peary at 200 gallons per minute.

An additional cable with safety device can hold two or more pallets of groceries or supplies and transport from Peary to a customer vessel in seconds, then unload and bring back to repeat the voyage again. When all the goods have been transferred, the customer makes a breakthrough move and simply leaves the pear tree at full speed. This is done to reduce collisions when larger ships approach smaller ships. The second delivery method is by airborne helicopters to transport pallets of products suspended in the cargo net below.

The plane hovers over the client ship, so supplies can be removed, and the process is repeated as many times as needed. The helicopter also transported the injured sailor to a ship awaiting surgery on board.

It is ships like the Peary that make the USN one of the most powerful forces on earth. Logistics is at the heart of every military operation -- more than any one person or weapon -- and it enables the modern military to accomplish its mission.

Without logistics-oriented ships in the inventory, the U.S. Navy will be transported back to a time when it had limited range on the high seas and had to periodically recall ships for replenishment.

Peary operates under the motto "King of the Team".

Specification

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