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Thefast combat support ship (US Navy hull classification symbol:AOE) is a type ofreplenishment auxiliary ship. Different from traditional logistic ships, the fast combat support ship is designed with high speed to keep up with thecarrier battle group/carrier strike group, while the multi-product station is capable of supplying all types of necessities for the fleet.[1]
The fast combat support ship is designed to perform the functions of three old logistic ship types in one hull - fleet oiler (AO), ammunition ship (AE), and refrigerated stores ship (AF). Aside from supplying ships, fast combat support ships need the speed, weapons, sensors, and communications equipment, to serve as an integrated component of the carrier strike battle group. The concept of fast combat support ship was envisioned byUnited States Navy admiralArleigh Burke, who laid out the concept as the solution to logistics problems he encountered in World War II.[2]
The first class of the fast combat support ship was theSacramento-class, built with multi-product supply stations, the largest fuel capacity, and the largest ammunition capacity in the US Navy at the time. The four ships of theSacramento-class were 53,000 tons at full load, 796 feet overall length, and carried twoBoeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. TheSacramento-class was retired in 2005.[2]
After replacing theSacramento-class, theSupply-class became the largestcombat logistics ship in the United States. They can carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil, 2,150 tons of ammunition, 500 tons of dry stores, and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. They receive petroleum products, ammunition, and stores from various shuttle ships and redistributes these items when needed to ships in thecarrier strike group. This greatly reduces the number of service ships needed to travel with carrier strike groups. The ships of the class displaced 48,800 tons full load and carried twoBoeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight or two SikorskyMH-60S Knighthawk helicopters.[3]
Air defense includes theRIM-7 Sea Sparrow radar and infraredsurface-to-air missile in eight-cell launchers to provide point defense with 15km to 25km range. There are also two 20mmPhalanx CIWS (close-in weapon systems) and twoMk38 25mm cannons. AllSupply-class combat support ships werecommissioned until 2001, and then were transferred toMilitary Sealift Command.[3]
A program to replace theSupply-class ships, the" T-AOE(X) station-ship replacement project", was cancelled in 2005 by US Defense SecretaryDonald Rumsfeld.[4]
As of early 2023, USNSRainier and USNSBridge have been taken out of service and struck. Along with the remaining twoSupply-class ships, US Navy fleets are currently supplied byLewis and Clark-classdry cargo ships as well asHenry J. Kaiser-class andJohn Lewis-classreplenishment oilers.
In the 21st century,China also developed theType 901 fast combat support ship, which serves a similar mission in their navy.[5]
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