A v o n d a l e Christens Joshua Humphreys, Second Fleet Oiler Of Kaiser (T-AO-187) Class

The second in a series of six fleet oilers of the Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO- 187) Class under a contract with the U.S. Navy by the Shipyards Division of Avondale Industries, Inc., was christened the Joshua Humphreys (T-AO-188) in recent ceremonies at the yard. She is scheduled for delivery in December 1986; the Kaiser will be delivered in September this year.

Avondale has a contract for six fleet oilers at a total cost of approximately $715,500,000. This contract is providing jobs for 2,000 Avondale employees. In previous contracts with the Navy, Avondale built five auxiliary oilers.

The Humphreys has an overall length of 667.5 feet, beam of 97.5 feet, and maximum draft of 36 feet.

She is powered by twin 10-cylinder, medium-speed Colt/Pielstick PC4.2 diesel engines with a total output of 32,000 bhp, providing a service speed of 20 knots. The twin-screw design provides the vessels of the Kaiser Class with improved directional stability, ease of control, and mission reliability under combat conditions. Accommodations are provided for a crew of 137.

Vice Adm. Joseph Metcalf III, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Surface Warfare), was the principal speaker at the christening ceremony. His wife, Ruth Daniels Metcalf, was the ship's sponsor.

Other speakers included Vice Adm.

W.H. Rowden, USN, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; Albert L. Bossier, Jr., president of Avondale Industries, Shipyards Division; and Capt. Paul D. Hurst, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair-New Orleans.

Special guests at the christening ceremony were Capt. Wayne Humphreys, USN, and his wife of Warrentown, Va. He is ship design engineer of Adm. MetcalFs staff, and a sixth-generation descendant of Joshua Humphreys, for whom the ship is named.

A great American naval architect and shipbuilder, Joshua Humphreys designed, built, and outfitted many ships during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Often referred to as the "Father of the American Navy," he built the first two naval shipyards in the U.S.

Two of his most famous ships, the Constellation and the Constitution (Old Ironsides), are still afloat today.

He died in 1838 but is remembered today as one of the most influential figures in American naval history.

The mission of the fleet oilers is transportation of bulk products from shore depots to combatants and support forces underway. These ships also deliver limited fleet freight, cargo water, mail, and personnel.

Each has a capacity of 183,500 barrels of oil in 18 cargo tanks, and is capable of simultaneously receiving, storing, and discharging two separate grades of fuel (JP-5 and DFM). All cargo pump and valve operations and the ship's segregated ballast system are operated from the cargo control center located in the aft superstructure.

This center has an overview of the entire underway replenishment deck.

Underway replenishment is accomplished using transfer rigs with hoses suspended by a span wire than is automatically maintained in a constant-tension range. The T-AO vessels are also capable of refueling helicopters from a vertical replenishment facility aft of the accommodation house.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 88, Apr 1986

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