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USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat

USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK-3016), the only ship of its class, is a cargo ship built in 1987.[1] She became one of the only Soviet ships to enter United States service.[2] The ship is named after Lance Corporal Roy M. Wheat, an American Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor during Vietnam War.[3]

Construction and commissioning

The ship was built in 1987 at the Chernomorski Shipyard, Nikolaiev, Mykolaiv Oblast.[4] She was put into the service of Black Sea Shipping Company.[5]

In 1997, the ship was purchased by the Military Sealift Command and following conversion was placed in Prepositioning Program and the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 on 7 October 2003.[5] The conversion process included a 118 ft midbody hull extension, the installation of two cargo cranes, installation of fore and aft garages, strengthening and increasing the length of the stern ramp, a stern helicopter deck, conversion of the electrical system from 50 hz to 60 hz, the replacement of the ship's generator and electrical switching gear replacement, new Vosper-Thornycroft machinery control systems, new and larger accommodations, and climate control systems for the cargo holds.[6] The Navy awarded the contract in the amount of $150 million to Ocean Marine Navigation Company.[7]

On 1 August 2002, Roy W. Wheat was moored at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Corporation Shipyard, Portsmouth.[8] Sailors from the ship set up the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) causeway ferries, off Liberia on 21 March 2008.[9]

From 1 October 2012, Roy M. Wheat alongside ships of the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 would be transferred to the Military Sealift Command Surge Sealift due to the disestablishing of the squadron on 28 September.[10]

Crowley Government Services Inc. was awarded $14,513,105 to maintain USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK-3005), USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK-3006), USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK-3007) and LCPL Roy. M. Wheat on 29 September 2020.[11]

End of service

LCPL Roy M. Wheat left service and was stricken on 30 December 2021.[12] As of January 31, 2022, the vessel was assigned to the James River Reserve Fleet at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, and was slated for disposal.[13]

Awards

Gallery

References

  1. ^ "USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT (T-AK 3016)". Naval Vessel Register. 7 October 2003. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  2. ^ Rozin, Igor (11 August 2020). "What's known about this Soviet ship on US service". www.rbth.com. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  3. ^ "The namesake of "America's Soviet Ship"". The American Legion. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  4. ^ admin (30 April 2020). "Naval Ships – USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT T-AK 3016". Malta Movements - Transportation. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Cargo Ship Photo Index". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  6. ^ CONVERSION OF THE USNS LCPL ROY M. WHEAT (T-AK 3016) By Charles D. Wasson and D. P. "Dwayne" Nutting, Presented to The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Hampton Roads Section, 4 October 2001
  7. ^ admin (30 April 2020). "Naval Ships – USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT T-AK 3016". Malta Movements - Transportation. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Port bow side view of the US Navy (USN) Military Sealift Command (MSC) Maritime Preposition Ship USNS LCPL ROY M. WHEAT (T-AK 3016) moored to the pier at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA)". The U.S. National Archives. 1 August 2002. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  9. ^ staff, Defense Industry Daily. "Whatever Floats Your Tank: the USNs Improved Navy Lighterage System". Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. ^ "MSC's Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One Disestablished". MarineLink. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. ^ Keller, Katie (29 September 2020). "Palantir Awarded $91 Million Contract R&D for the US Army Research Laboratory". ClearanceJobs. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Naval Vessel Register LCPL ROY M WHEAT (AK 3016)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  13. ^ "U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory For the Month Ending January 31, 2022" (PDF). U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.