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and John Glenn (T-ESD-2), are built on plenishment oilers (T-AOs) and the 14, to Maritime Prepositioning Ship squad-

Direct Fleet Support a commercial tanker design, and provide MSC operates combat logistics force 689-foot dry cargo/ammunition ships rons). The Navy is planning a new class the ability to transfer material from large (CLF ships to deliver fuel, ammunition (T-AKEs). The 15 The Henry J. Kaiser- of 17 ? eet oilers. The John Lewis (TAO- prepositioning ships to connectors such and supplies directly to the ? eet at sea. class T-AOs can carry 180,000 bbls of 205) class oiler, previously known as the as LCAC for further movement to the Multi-product fast combatant support fuel. The 12 41,000-ton Lewis and Clark TAO(X) program, is a program to build a beach. USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) ships (T-AOEs) can sustain a carrier T-AKEs carry ammunition, food, 23,450 new class of 17 ? eet oilers for the Navy. and sister ship Hershel “Woody” Wil- strike group at sea, and keep up with bbls of fuel, repair parts and ship store The TAO-205 class ship was procured in liams (T-ESB-4) are expeditionary mo- items (two of the T-AKEs are assigned FY2016.

them. Other CLF ships include ? eet re- bile bases (ESBs, formerly a? oat for- ward staging bases (AFSBs)), based on the ESD but at 87,000 tons fully loaded are heavier, that can support mine coun- termeasures operations and Special

Forces units. Both the ESD and ESB are built by General Dynamics NASSCO in

San Diego.

SUPERIOR SHIPYARD SERVICES

The Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) was originally conceived as a joint

Army and Navy program to provide in- tra-theater lift, but today EPF is demon- strating its value for highly specialized operational support assignments from

ISR, support of unmanned systems and theater security cooperation. Built by

Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., the diesel- powered 2,400-ton EPF is 338 ft. long with a beam of 95 ft., and can carry the load equivalent to 10 C-130 aircraft. s