New cargo ship to join Military Sealift Command
The USNS William McLean, the newest ship in the U.S. Navy’s Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, was launched at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego during a naming ceremony on Saturday.
McLean is the 12th of a projected 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships, all of which will be operated by the Military Sealift Command and crewed either primarily or solely by civil service mariners, depending on the ship's mission. Eleven of the ships will serve as part of the command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force and three are slated to be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force.
Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force ships deliver ammunition, food, fuel and other supplies to U.S. and allied ships at sea, enabling the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence. Maritime Prepositioning Force ships are continuously deployed to strategic locations worldwide carrying Marine Corps cargo ready for rapid delivery to shore.
Construction of the McLean began with its keel laying March 26, 2010. The ship is to be delivered to the Military Sealift Command in the fall.
The command operates about 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. and coalition forces.
New cargo ship to join Military Sealift Command
