USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE-4)
| USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE-4) underway outside San Diego harbor. | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | USNS Richard E. Byrd |
| Namesake: | R.ADM Richard Evelyn Byrd |
| Awarded: | 18 July 2003 |
| Builder: | National Steel and Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 28 July 2006 |
| Launched: | 15 May 2007 |
| Completed: | 14 November 2007 |
| In service: | 8 January 2008 |
| Motto: |
Qua Patet Orbis (As Far As the World Extends) |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2024[update] |
| Badge: | 153px |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Lewis and Clark-class cargo ship |
| Displacement: |
23,852 tons light, 40,298 tons full, 16,446 tons dead |
| Length: |
210 m (689 ft) overall, 199.3 m (654 ft) waterline |
| Beam: |
32.3 m (106 ft) extreme, 32.3 m (106 ft) waterline |
| Draft: |
9.1 m (30 ft) maximum, 9.4 m (31 ft) limit |
| Propulsion: | Integrated propulsion and ship service electrical system, with generation at 6.6 kV by FM/MAN B&W diesel generators; one fixed pitch propeller; bow thruster |
| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Range: |
14,000 nautical miles at 20 kt (26,000 km at 37 km/h) |
| Capacity: |
• Max dry cargo weight: 5,910 long tons (6,005 t) • Max dry cargo volume: 783,000 cubic feet (22,000 m³) • Max cargo fuel weight: 2,350 long tons (2,390 t) • Cargo fuel volume: 18,000 barrels (2,900 m³) (DFM: 10,500) (JP5:7,500) |
| Complement: | 123 civilian, 12 USN staff |
| Aircraft carried: | two helicopters, either Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk or Aerospatiale Super Puma |
USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE-4) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship in the United States Navy. She is the second United States Navy ship to be named after polar explorer Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888–1957).
The contract to build her was awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) of San Diego, California, on 18 July 2003. She was launched from the building ways into the San Diego Bay on the evening of 15 May 2007; Bolling Byrd Clarke, Admiral Byrd's eldest daughter, broke the ceremonial bottle of champagne on the ship's bow to start the launch amid fireworks and fanfare.[1] Construction continued until the U.S. Navy accepted her on 14 November 2007. Additional construction work continued until she was delivered to Military Sealift Command (MSC) for crewing and placed in service on 8 January 2008.
She completed a fitting-out period as well multiple operational inspections and trials, including a full INSURV inspection on 27 March 2008. A final period of modifications and design alterations was completed during a 70-day availability before full fleet introduction on 25 July 2008. The ship joins the Pacific Fleet and predominantly operates in the Far East and Indian Ocean operation areas.
References
Based on data from the Naval Vessel Register and press releases.
- ↑ "T-AKE Ship: USNS Richard E. Byrd Launch". YouTube. October 25, 2007. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a9rtwzKfgQ. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
External links
- "USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 2007-11-15. http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AKE4.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- Priolo, Gary P. (4 January 2008). "T-AKE-4 Richard E. Byrd". Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource Online. http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/75/7504.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- "New Ship Class Begins Operations in 7th Fleet". Navy NewsStand. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2008/07/mil-080725-nns03.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
- USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23) veterans' website
