Bob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship

USNS Bob Hope in harbor at Souda Bay in Crete, Greece
Class overview
Builders	Avondale Shipyard
Cost	US$ 265 million (1993) [1] (equivalent to US$504.78 million in 2023) [2]
Built	1993–2001
In service	1998–
Completed	7
Active	2 Active, 5 Ready Reserve Force
General characteristics
Class and type	Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off
Displacement	62,069 tons full
Length	951 ft 5 in (290.0 m)
Beam	106 ft (32.3 m)
Draft	34 ft 10 in (10.6 m) maximum
Propulsion	4 × Colt Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V diesels; 65,160 hp(m) (47.89 MW)
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h)
Range	15,000 miles
Capacity	380,000 sq ft (35,000 m2), 1,000 wheeled or tracked military vehicles [3]
Complement	26 to 45 civilian crew; up to 50 active duty
Aviation facilities	Helicopter landing area

The Bob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship is a class of Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off cargo ship used for prepositioning of military vehicles and other materiel by the United States. The lead ship of this class is USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300).

History

In June 2016, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) was awarded a design and construction contract for six John Lewis-class replenishment oilers. ^[4] NASSCO began construction on John Lewis in September 2018, and began construction on Harvey Milk in September 2020. ^[5] In January 2020 the lead ship delivery estimate was delayed from November 2020 until June 2021, due to delays in delivery of gear and flooding of a graving dock. ^[6] In September of 2024, General Dynamics was awarded a contract for eight additional John Lewis-class ships, to be delivered by January of 2035. ^[7]

Naming

The class is named for its lead ship, John Lewis, which is named for American politician and civil rights leader John Lewis. The remaining John Lewis-class oilers will be named after prominent civil rights leaders and activists. ^[6]

Ships

Ship	Hull. No.	Namesake	Laid down	Launched	Delivered	Status	Refs
Bob Hope	T-AKR 300	Bob Hope	29 May 1993	27 March 1997	18 November 1998	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Fisher	T-AKR 301	Zachary Fisher	15 April 1996	21 October 1997	4 August 1999	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Seay	T-AKR 302	William W. Seay	24 March 1997	25 June 1998	28 March 2000	Active	[9]
Mendonca	T-AKR 303	Leroy A. Mendonca	3 November 1997	25 May 1999	30 January 2001	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Pililaau	T-AKR 304	Herbert K. Pililaau	29 June 1998	29 January 2000	24 July 2001	Active	[9]
Brittin	T-AKR 305	Nelson V. Brittin	3 May 1999	11 November 2000	11 July 2002	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Benavidez	T-AKR 306	Roy Benavidez	15 December 1999	11 August 2001	10 September 2003	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]

References

1. "T-AKR USNS Bob Hope". Federation of American Scientists. 14 October 2000. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
2. '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000002-QINU`"'Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved 30 November 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
3. "Bob Hope Class Roll-On Roll-Off Vehicle Cargo Ships, United States of America". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
4. "General Dynamics NASSCO Awarded Contract to Build Next Generation of U.S. Navy Fleet Oilers". nassco.com. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
5. "General Dynamics NASSCO Begins Construction on First Ship in the T-AO Fleet Oiler Program for U.S. Navy". nassco.com. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
6. "Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). fas.org. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
7. "Huntington Ingalls Lands $9.5 Billion in New Navy Warship Orders". finance.yahoo.com. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
8. "MARAD RRF SHIP POSTER". maritime.dot.gov. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
9. "Status of Ships". nvr.navy.mil. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.

External links

• AKR Vehicle Cargo Ships at Navy Site