Craig Honour (1991)
The new USNS AOE's bear the same AOE class name and look similar to the Sacremento class AOE's but do not have near the same operational capability. Sort of like comparing 45 caliber pistol to a BB gun! The turnover of the new Supply AOE class to USNS did save Navy a ton of money but you usually get what you pay for and in this case we did.
The Supply class was built with more economical gas turnes which limited top speed to 26 vs 33 for Seattle. Supply class only has 5 mil gals of fule product vs 9 million gallons in Seattle. Ordnance storage is only 1800 tons vs 3000 tons in Seattle. FFV, gas, water and dry product storage were similarly reduced.
During turnover to MSC, the Supply class was further emasculated compared to Seattle. A number of rigs were decommissioned, all weapons systems were removed (Nat Sea Sparropw Missle, CIWS, 25 MM guns, AN/SLQ32, Decoy launches, Nixie) , CIC was essentially removed. Additional features removed or signifcantly reduced in scope to support a smaller civilian crew included leisure and community facilities, medical and dental doctors, barber shop, work shops, laboratories and test areas.
Obviously a total crew of 235 cannot do what a crew of 650 can do, particularly when civilians work union rules, overtime restrictions and rest periods, so the ability of the MSC ship to sustain long periods of replenishment ops is nil. Basically the new class is a one shot deal and then must rest.
Also important is the Navy lost a signifcantly ability for the United States to showcase commissioned US Navy ships forward presence. All Sacremento class ships and Supply class ships before turnover represented the Navy and US well overseas, usually hosting diplomatic events, providing volunteer charity work and interfacing with foreign military. Many a foreigner gained new appreciation for the US during such visits. The turnover to MSC also significantly degraded capability for humanitarian aide which takes all the things a large crew can provide and especially food, water, medical, engineering and boots on the ground.
Of course our navy is a shadow of its former self and programmed by the current administration to get even smaller so the need for logistics capability is similarly decreased.
But it was a wonderous thing to have served on Seattle as a Battle Group Logistics Coordinator (BGLC) with a great crew keeping her going for extended days, carriers lined up to port and CruDes lined up to starboard, rigs flying, helicopters landing every minute, Romeo going up and down as we fed them bullets beans and oil until they couldn't take any more!
Take pride in your service that you were once part of what is no more!
Craig Honour
Captain 90-93
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