Navy Launches Newest T-AKE
USNS Amelia Earhart, the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships owned and operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC), was launched April 6 during a nighttime ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The 689-ft. ship, designated T-AKE 6, slid into the water for the first time with red, white and blue streamers flowing from its bow and fireworks lighting the sky overhead. Among the nearly 1,000 people present at the event were U.S. Rep. Susan Davis of , MSC Commander Rear Adm. Robert Reilly Jr. and Logistics Group Western Pacific Commander Rear Adm. Nora Tyson. "Being able to refuel at sea is essential to our Navy's ability to be forward deployed and remain strong in our global endeavors," said .
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 .
