MV TSgt John A. Chapman (T-AK-323) was a Buffalo Soldier-class container ship. She was one of Military Sealift Command's Prepositioning Program.
Built in 1978 by Chantier naval de La Ciotat in la Ciotat, France, she was originally named Merlin.[2] On 8 April 2005, she was renamed for Pope Air Force Base combat controller Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman, a posthumous Air Force Cross recipient. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during the Battle of Takur Ghar.[3][4] In 2018, Chapman's Air Force Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.[5]
TSgt John A. Chapman carried Air Force munitions. She featured climate-controlled cocoons on her weather decks which protect additional cargo from the marine environment. She was owned and operated by Sealift Incorporated under charter to MSC.
She was scrapped on 4 September 2014 at Alang.[6]
MV TSgt. John A. Chapman (AK-323) ex MV Merlin (AK-323), MV American Merlin (AK-9302)
SUNNY POINT, N.C. (AFPN) -- A fallen Air Force hero from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., was honored April 8 at the Military Ocean Terminal here. A Navy cargo ship was named for Air Force Cross recipient Tech. Sgt. John Chapman.
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFPN) -- Senior Air Force leaders awarded the Air Force Cross to Tech. Sgt. John Chapman here Jan. 10.