USNS Regulus
Class overview
Builders
  • T-AKR 287, 288, 289, 293; Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V., Rotterdam, the Netherlands
  • T-AKR 291; Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden, West Germany
  • T-AKR 290, 292, 294; AG Weser, Bremen, Germany
Built1972–73
Active8
General characteristics
Displacement55,350 tons
Length946.2 ft (288.4 m)
Beam106 ft (32 m)
Draft37 ft (11 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875 psi (61.6 kg/cm2)
  • 2 GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000 hp (89.5 MW)
  • 2 shafts
Speed33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Complement43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational), 18 civilians (reduced operating status)

The Algol-class vehicle cargo ships, also known as Fast Sealift Ships (FSS) or SL-7s, are currently the fastest conventional steam powered cargo ships in the world that are still (intermittently) operating, capable of speeds in excess of 33 knots (61 km/h). (The Maersk Line B-Class Container ships are faster 37 knots (69 km/h)). Although in reality both are laid up due to their high operating costs and less than green credentials in terms of fuel burned in transporting one unit of cargo per nautical miles travelled. Originally built in 1972 and 1973 as high-speed container ships known as SL-7s for SeaLand, the ships' high operating costs limited their profitability. All eight ships were acquired by the United States Navy in 1981 and 1982, with the last ship converted, delivered to and placed in service with Military Sealift Command in 1986. The conversion entailed the installation of four cranes, addition of roll on/roll off capability and a redesign of the cargo hold to better facilitate storage of vehicles. Due largely to their high cost of operation, all fast sealift ships are kept in Reduced Operating Status, but can be activated and ready to sail in 96 hours. All ships are named after bright stars in the night sky.

Service

All eight ships took part in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, delivering thirteen percent of all the cargo transported between the United States and Saudi Arabia during and after the Persian Gulf War. Fast sealift ships have taken part in Operations Restore Hope, Joint Guardian, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in addition to humanitarian relief efforts across the globe. On 1 October 2007, the United States Maritime Administration began operating all eight FSS. All eight were transferred to the Ready Reserve on 1 October 2008. At this time their USNS designations were replaced with SS designations as they were no longer US Navy ships.[1]

Antares propulsion failure

From GlobalSecurity.org:[2]

Unfortunately, one FSS, the Antares, failed off the East coast of the United States with a considerable amount of the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) equipment and 100 soldiers aboard. The ship was towed to Rota, Spain by the ocean-going tugboat Apache. Some of the cargo was airlifted to Saudi Arabia but most had to be unloaded and reloaded by the soldiers and Seebees aboard the FSS USNS Altaire returning from her initial voyage. This cargo arrived about three weeks later than planned. (Before the war, the Antares had been scheduled for major overhaul, but this was delayed. Thus a degree of risk was accepted in the decision to use Antares to speed the deployment.)

Fast Sealift Ships

Cranes aboard the vehicle cargo ship USNS ALTAIR (T-AKR 291) lower equipment to an LACV-30 air cushion vehicle during Exercise GALLANT EAGLE 86

References

  1. ↑ "Military Sealift Command – Fact Sheet". Msc.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  2. ↑ John Pike (2 May 2000). "T-AKR 287 Algol SL-7 Type Fast Sealift Ships". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
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