USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat explained

USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK-3016), the only ship of its class, is a cargo ship built in 1987.[1] She became one of the only Soviet ships to enter United States service.[2] The ship is named after Lance Corporal Roy M. Wheat, an American Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor during Vietnam War.[3]

Construction and commissioning

The ship was built in 1987 at the Chernomorski Shipyard, Nikolaiev, Mykolaiv Oblast.[4] She was put into the service of Black Sea Shipping Company.[5]

In 1997, the ship was purchased by the Military Sealift Command and following conversion was placed in Prepositioning Program and the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 on 7 October 2003. The conversion process included a 118 ft midbody hull extension, the installation of two cargo cranes, installation of fore and aft garages, strengthening and increasing the length of the stern ramp, a stern helicopter deck, conversion of the electrical system from 50 hz to 60 hz, the replacement of the ship's generator and electrical switching gear replacement, new Vosper-Thornycroft machinery control systems, new and larger accommodations, and climate control systems for the cargo holds. The Navy awarded the contract in the amount of $150 million to Ocean Marine Navigation Company.[6]

On 1 August 2002, Roy W. Wheat was moored at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Corporation Shipyard, Portsmouth.[7] Sailors from the ship set up the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) causeway ferries, off Liberia on 21 March 2008.[8]

From 1 October 2012, Roy M. Wheat alongside ships of the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 would be transferred to the Military Sealift Command Surge Sealift due to the disestablishing of the squadron on 28 September.[9]

Crowley Government Services Inc. was awarded $14,513,105 to maintain USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK-3005), USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK-3006), USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK-3007) and LCPL Roy. M. Wheat on 29 September 2020.[10]

End of service

LCPL Roy M. Wheat left service and was stricken on 30 December 2021.[11] As of January 31, 2022, the vessel was assigned to the James River Reserve Fleet at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, and was slated for disposal.[12]

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 7 October 2003. USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT (T-AK 3016). 12 February 2022. Naval Vessel Register.
  2. Web site: Rozin. Igor. 2020-08-11. What's known about this Soviet ship on US service. 2022-02-12. www.rbth.com. en-US.
  3. Web site: The namesake of "America's Soviet Ship". 2022-02-12. The American Legion. en.
  4. Web site: admin. 2020-04-30. Naval Ships – USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT T-AK 3016. 2022-02-12. Malta Movements - Transportation. en-US.
  5. Web site: Cargo Ship Photo Index. 2022-02-12. www.navsource.org.
  6. Web site: admin. 2020-04-30. Naval Ships – USNS LCPL ROY M WHEAT T-AK 3016. 2022-02-12. Malta Movements - Transportation. en-US.
  7. Web site: 2002-08-01. Port bow side view of the US Navy (USN) Military Sealift Command (MSC) Maritime Preposition Ship USNS LCPL ROY M. WHEAT (T-AK 3016) moored to the pier at the Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA). 2022-02-12. The U.S. National Archives. en.
  8. Web site: staff. Defense Industry Daily. Whatever Floats Your Tank: the USNs Improved Navy Lighterage System. 2022-02-12. Defense Industry Daily.
  9. Web site: 2012-09-28. MSC's Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One Disestablished. 2022-02-12. MarineLink. en.
  10. Web site: Keller. Katie. 2020-09-29. Palantir Awarded $91 Million Contract R&D for the US Army Research Laboratory. 2022-02-12. ClearanceJobs.
  11. Web site: Naval Vessel Register LCPL ROY M WHEAT (AK 3016) . . 13 June 2022 . Naval Vessel Register . United States Navy . 20 December 2022.
  12. Web site: U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory For the Month Ending January 31, 2022 . . 1 February 2022 . U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration . U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration . 20 December 2022.

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