_underway_at_sea%2c_in_2022_(220728-N-N2201-001).JPG) USNSJohn Lewis (T-AO-205) in 2022 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | John Lewis class |
| Builders | General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) |
| Preceded by | Henry J. Kaiser class |
| Built | 2019-present |
| In service | 2022-present |
| Planned | 20 |
| On order | 9 |
| Building | 5 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Active | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Fleet replenishment oiler |
| Displacement | 49,850 tons full load |
| Length | 746 ft (227.4 m) |
| Beam | 106 ft 5 in (32.4 m) |
| Draft | 33.5 ft (10.2 m) maximum |
| Propulsion | Two medium-speedFairbanks-Morse 12V48/60CRdiesel engines, two shafts,propellers |
| Speed | 20knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Endurance | 6,147 nmi (11,384 km; 7,074 mi) |
| Complement | 125 total |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | AN/SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament |
|
| Aviation facilities | Helicopter flight deck |
| Notes |
|
TheJohn Lewis class is aclass of fleetreplenishment oilers which began construction in September 2018.[1] The class will comprise twenty oilers ships which will be operated byMilitary Sealift Command to provide underway replenishment of fuel and limited amounts of dry cargo toUnited States Navycarrier strike groups,amphibious ready groups, and other surface forces, to allow them to operate worldwide.[2]
_underway_on_1_February_2022_(220201-N-CX372-0001G).JPG)
TheJohn Lewis-class ships are double-hulled and constructed to commercial standards and OPNAVINST 9070.1 requirements. They are classed toAmerican Bureau of Shipping steel vessel rules.[3] The ships have capabilities similar to theHenry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers and rely on existing technology.[4] The ships can carry 156,000 barrels of oil and have increased dry cargo storage over theHenry J. Kaiser class.[5]
There are stations on both sides of each ship forunderway replenishment of fuel and stores, and will have two dry cargo transfer rigs. TheJohn Lewis-class ships have self-defenses againstmines andtorpedoes, and are equipped with crew-served weapons which are operated by embarked Navy Expeditionary Security Teams for limited self-defense ability against small boat attack.[4]
The ships have space, weight, and power reserved for additional self-defense systems, includingclose-in weapon systems (CIWS) or SeaRAM, and an anti-torpedo torpedo defense system. Even with additional self-defense systems installed the ships will still require escort if operating in a higher threat environment.[4]
In June 2016,General DynamicsNational Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) was awarded a design and construction contract for sixJohn Lewis-class replenishment oilers.[6] NASSCO began construction onJohn Lewis in September 2018, and began construction onHarvey Milk in September 2020.[7] 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.[4] In September of 2024,General Dynamics was awarded a contract for eight additionalJohn Lewis-class ships, to be delivered by January of 2035.[8]
The class is named for itslead ship,John Lewis, which is named for Americancivil rights movement leader and politicianJohn Lewis. The remainingJohn Lewis-class oilers will be named after prominent civil rights leaders and activists.[4] In 2025, the formerHarvey Milk was renamed afterMedal of Honor recipientOscar V. Peterson. According toSecretary of DefensePete Hegseth, the action was to help the Navy align with the priorities ofPresident Trump and to, "reestablish the warrior culture." The Navy clarified that no other ships in the class would be renamed.[9][10]
| Ship | Hull. No. | Namesake | Laid down | Launched | Status | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lewis | T-AO-205 | John Lewis -Civil rights movement leader andCongressman | 13 May 2019 | 12 January 2021 | Active, in service 27 July 2022 | [6][11] |
| Harvey Milk → Oscar V. Peterson | T-AO-206 | Harvey Milk -City Supervisor Oscar V. Peterson -Medal of Honor recipient | 3 September 2020 | 6 November 2021 | Active, in service 11 July 2023, renamed in June 2025 fromHarvey Milk toOscar V. Peterson | [12][13] |
| Earl Warren | T-AO-207 | Earl Warren -Supreme Court Chief Justice | 30 April 2022 | 28 October 2022[14] | Active, in service 7 May 2024 | [15] |
| Robert F. Kennedy | T-AO-208 | Robert F. Kennedy -Attorney General | 5 December 2022 | 29 October 2023 | Active, in service 10 December 2024 | [16][17] |
| Lucy Stone | T-AO-209 | Lucy Stone -Woman's rights advocate | 8 August 2023 | 21 September 2024 | Christened 21 September 2024 | [18][19] |
| Sojourner Truth | T-AO-210 | Sojourner Truth -Woman's rights advocate | 21 June 2024 | 26 April 2025 | Christened 26 April 2025 | [20] |
| Thurgood Marshall | T-AO-211 | Thurgood Marshall -Supreme Court Justice | 5 December 2024 | Under construction | [21] | |
| Ruth Bader Ginsburg | T-AO-212 | Ruth Bader Ginsburg -Supreme Court Justice | 8 October 2024 | Under construction | [22][23] | |
| Harriet Tubman | T-AO-213 | Harriet Tubman -Civil War-eraabolitionist | Under construction | [24][25] | ||
| Dolores Huerta | T-AO-214 | Dolores Huerta - American labor leader and civil rights activist | On order | [26] | ||
| Joshua L. Goldberg | T-AO-215 | Joshua L. Goldberg - Firstrabbi to volunteer for naval service[27] | On order | [8][28] | ||
| Thomas D. Parham | T-AO-216 | Thomas D. Parham - firstAfrican American sailor promoted toCaptain[27] | On order | [8][28] | ||
| T-AO-217 | On order | [8] | ||||
| T-AO-218 | On order | [8] | ||||
| T-AO-219 | On order | [8] | ||||
| T-AO-220 | On order | [8] | ||||
| T-AO-221 | On order | [8] |
