USNS Matthew Perry

Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship of the United States Navy, named in honor of Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794–1858), who led the effort to open Japan to trade with the West.^[2]

The contract to build Matthew Perry was awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) of San Diego, California, on 30 January 2006. Her keel was laid down on 3 October 2008. She was launched and christened on 16 August 2009, sponsored by Hester Evans, a great-great-great-granddaughter of Commodore Perry.

Service

Matthew Perry was one of several participating in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.^[3] During the 21 days of operations, Matthew Perry completed 17 separate replenishment events, delivering more than 1.5 million US gallons (5,700 m³) of fuel and transporting relief supplies.^[4]

See also

• USS Perry, for other ships named after Commodore Perry

Notes

1. "General Dynamics NASSCO Delivers USNS Matthew Perry". General Dynamics NASSCO. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
2. "Navy Names Four Ships After American Pioneers". U.S. Department of Defense. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
3. Seawaves,"Warships Supporting Earthquake in Japan" Archived 23 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
4. Baxter, Edward (May 2011). "Disaster! Operation Tomodachi". Military Sealift Command (MSC). Retrieved 8 October 2011.

References

 This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

External links

• "USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
• Priolo, Gary P. (16 January 2009). "USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9)". Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource Online. Retrieved 24 January 2009.