Naval Vessels

The mission of the Military Sealift Command is to provide sea transportation needed to deploy and sustain U.S. forces worldwide. The command employs 6,000 civil service workers and has 1,000 military personnel assigned and 2,000 merchant mariners under contract. In peacetime this command contracts with private shipping companies to meet its requirements. It also operates three forces: the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, Special Mission Support Force, and Strategic Sealift Force. Each force has ships assigned to it that are crewed by civilian mariners—either civil servants or contract personnel. Most of these ships are merchant-type vessels used to support naval ships at sea and U.S. forces stationed overseas.

The Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force provides direct support to U.S. Navy combatant ships at sea so they can remain on station for extended periods. Ships in this force carry naval military detachments ranging from 4 to 67 persons. They provide communications, coordinate supply functions, conduct helicopter operations, and perform other duties in support of the mission. Oilers, used to transport bulk petroleum products from shore depots to combatant vessels and support ships, make up the biggest part of this force. Ammunition ships provide missiles and ammunition and can refuel ships at sea. Fleet-stores ships furnish provisions, technical parts, fleet freight, and personnel. Ocean surveillance ships tow sensor array systems for gathering submarine acoustical data and play a significant role in augmenting overall antisubmarine warfare capabilities. Fleet ocean tugs tow large ships damaged in battle or otherwise not operational and conduct salvage operations. Heavy lift ships carry damaged ships back to port for repair.

The Special Mission Support Force carries out highly specialized oceanographic research, missile tracking, oceanographic and hydrographic surveys, and cable laying and repair. Missile-range instrumentation ships monitor submarine launchings of missiles and collect data that scientists use to improve efficiency of missiles. They also formerly tracked missiles of the Soviet Union to ensure compliance with arms-limitation agreements, and they continue to track missiles launched by other nations. Oceanographic research and survey ships conduct tests to support technological advancement of undersea warfare and detection equipment. Cable-repair ships transport, deploy, retrieve, and repair submarine cables and conduct acoustic hydrographic and bathymetric surveys.

The Strategic Sealift Force deploys and sustains military forces, wherever needed, through delivery of materials, petroleum products, and other supplies. The Afloat Prepositioning Force is made up of 25 ships loaded with military equipment and prepositioned around the world, within five days' sailing time from potential trouble spots. The Maritime Prepositioning Force consists of 13 ships divided into 3 squadrons: one in the Atlantic, one in the western Pacific, and one in the Indian Ocean. Each squadron carries unit equipment and supplies required to support a U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary brigade for 30 days. For rapid, worldwide deployment of a mechanized army division, the U.S. Navy acquired eight Fast Sealift Ships—the fastest cargo ships in the world. They are nearly as large as aircraft carriers and can carry tanks, helicopters, and other military supplies. Large hospital ships, each with a 1,000-bed treatment facility, 12 operating rooms, and a medical staff of 820 persons provide a mobile, rapidly responsive medical capability to support amphibious and naval task forces.