The Navy on Tuesday accepted delivery of the fourth John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler built in San Diego, the USNS Robert F. Kennedy.
“This delivery is a significant milestone as we bring another oiler to our fleet and increase our replenishment underway capabilities,” said John Lighthammer, program manager for the Defense Department. “This is the final stepping stone in getting this essential ship to our civilian mariners in need of its tools.
The 746-foot-long ships are operated by Military Sealift Command and carry diesel ship fuel, jet fuel and dry cargo. They can be armed with self-defense weapons during wartime.
The Lewis-class of oilers will replace the current Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oilers and they age out of the fleet.
The General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in Barrio Logan has four more ships in the class in production, and an addition two under contract. All are named for American civil rights figures.
