USNS Washington Chambers

USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11)
USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11) in October 2014
History
NamesakeWashington Chambers
Awarded12 December 2008
BuilderNational Steel and Shipbuilding
Laid down25 August 2009
Launched11 September 2010
Sponsored byLoretta Penn
Christened11 September 2010
In service23 February 2011
Identification
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class & typeLewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship
Displacement
  • 23,852 tons light
  • 40,298 tons full
  • 16,446 tons dead
Length
  • 210 m (689 ft) overall
  • 199.3 m (654 ft) waterline
Beam
  • 32.3 m (106 ft) extreme
  • 32.3 m (106 ft) waterline
Draft
  • 9.1 m (30 ft) maximum,
  • 9.4 m (31 ft) limit
PropulsionIntegrated propulsion and ship service electrical system, with generation at 6.6 kV by FM/MAN B&W diesel generators; one fixed pitch propeller; bow thruster
Speed20 knots (37 km/h)
Range14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Capacity
  • Max dry cargo weight: 5,910 long tons (6,000 t)
  • Max dry cargo volume:783,000 cu ft (22,200 m3)
  • Max cargo fuel weight: 2,350 long tons (2,390 t)
  • Cargo fuel volume: 18,000 imp bbl (2,900 m3)
  • (DFM: 10,500) (JP5: 7,500)
Complement49 military, 123 civilian
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Nulka decoy launchers
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × helicopters, either Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk or Aerospatiale SA330J Puma

USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship of the United States Navy, named in honor of Captain Washington Chambers (1856–1934), a pioneer in US naval aviation.

Construction

The contract to build Washington Chambers was awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company on 12 December 2008. Her keel was laid down on 25 August 2009. Washington Chambers was launched and christened on 11 September 2010 sponsored by Loretta Penn, wife of former Acting Secretary of the Navy, B.J. Penn. Washington Chambers was delivered to the US Navy's Military Sealift Command on 23 February 2011, following a series of tests and sea trials.

Operational history

The ship delivers ammunition, provisions, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to US Navy and other navy ships at sea, allowing them to remain underway and combat ready for extended periods of time.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Keel Laid for Future USNS Washington Chambers". Navy News Service. 25 August 2009. NNS090825-07. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Washington Chambers". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Burford, Sarah (13 September 2010). "Navy Christens Newest Lewis, Clark-Class Ship Washington Chambers". Navy News Service. Military Sealift Command Public Affairs. NNS100913-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. 1 2 Burford, Sarah (24 February 2011). "T-AKE USNS Washington Chambers Accepted into Military Sealift Command's Fleet". Navy News Service. Military Sealift Command Public Affairs. NNS110224-02. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.