Launch of "USNS William McLean"
Launch of "USNS William McLean" (Photo: NASSCO, General Dynamics)
The "USNS William McLean" is the 12th of a class of 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships slated to serve as Combat Logistics Force (CLF) ships or be part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force.
"USNS William McLean" is the twelfth ship of the 14-ship Lewis and Clark (T-AKE) Class of dry cargo ammunition ships General Dynamics NASSCO is building for the Navy's Military Sealift Command. Following its at-sea testing phase, the ship will be delivered to the Navy in the third quarter of 2011. When delivered to the Military Sealift Command, the ship will carry necessary supplies and equipment required to support U.S. Marine Corps operations anywhere in the world.
The San Diego shipyard has already delivered 11 T-AKE ships to the Navy and is currently building two additional T-AKE ships, "USNS Medgar Evers" (T-AKE 13) and the yet unnamed T-AKE 14, for a total class of 14 vessels.
