Seventh John Lewis Oiler: The John Lewis-class, formerly known as TAO(X), is a fleet of replenishment oiler ships being developed by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding (NASSCO), a shipbuilding company based in the United States. General Dynamics NASSCO recently laid the keel for the US Navy’s seventh John Lewis-class replenishment oiler ship in San Diego, California.
According to Thedefensepost, the event marked the official start of construction for the USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211) by assembling the ship’s modular components and engraving the sponsor’s initials onto its keel plate.
Once completed, the ship will operate under the Navy’s Military Sealift Command, providing fuel, dry cargo, and aviation support to other ships at sea.
Air Force Commanders Focus on Multi-Domain Warfare Readiness at Annual Meet
The Marshall is named after Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice on the US Supreme Court. Marshall was known for his work on affirmative action, opposing the death penalty, and defending abortion rights. Before becoming a Supreme Court justice, he was a civil rights lawyer who focused on fighting racial inequality in housing, elections, and public schools.
The ship’s sponsors are Marshall’s granddaughters, Cecilla Marshall and Melonie Tibbs, as well as his granddaughter-in-law, Alissa Kamens Marshall.
“USNS Thurgood Marshall honors the legacy of an extraordinary civil and human rights leader who is an example of perseverance to all,” US Navy Auxiliary and Special Mission Ships Program Manager John Lighthammer stated.
“This keel laying marks the first of many significant milestones for this ship and we will work with a sense of urgency to deliver this ship to the Fleet.”
John Lewis Oiler: Design and capacity
Construction for the lead ship in the John Lewis-class, USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), began with the first steel cut in September 2018. As per Naval technology, the ship was launched in January 2021 and was officially christened in July 2021.
The construction of the second ship, USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), began in September 2020, and the fourth ship, USNS Robert F Kennedy (T-AO 208), started in May 2021. The John Lewis-class replenishment oilers are 746 feet (227 meters) long and have a beam of 107 feet (33 meters).
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Undocks USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000)
These ships can carry over 120 personnel, a maritime helicopter, and are equipped with .50-caliber machine guns, close-in weapon systems, and surface-to-air missiles.
Powered by twin Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, the ship can reach a top speed of 20 knots (23 miles/37 kilometers per hour) and can travel over 6,000 nautical miles (6,905 miles/11,112 kilometers) without refueling.
Currently, NASSCO is constructing three John Lewis-class ships, including the USNS Thurgood Marshall, at their facility in California. The keel for the sixth ship, USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), was laid in June this year.
