NASSCO to Launch Navy Ship Amelia Earhart

 
General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in will christen and launch the U.S. Navy’s newest resupply ship, the Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) on Sunday, April 6, 2008.  Rep. Susan Davis () will be the ceremony’s principal speaker.  Mrs. Amy Kleppner, Amelia Earhart’s niece, will christen the ship. 
The Amelia Earhart is the sixth ship of the Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo-ammunition ships to be built by General Dynamics NASSCO.  Construction of the Amelia Earhart began in December 2006.  The ship’s primary mission will be to deliver more than 10,000 tons of food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships at sea.  The ship’s name will be preceded by “USNS” for United States Naval Ship. 
The timing of the launch is determined by the ship’s construction schedule and the tides of the .  The required depth of tidewater to safely launch the 25,000-ton, 689-foot-long ship into the bay usually occurs twice each month.  The Amelia Earhart will be launched into the bay at approximately 9:45 p.m.