The US Navy has named its newest John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, T-AO 210, as Sojourner Truth at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California.
Spanning 746ft, the future USNS Sojourner Truth is the sixth vessel in the class and will be operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC).
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The ship is a tribute to Sojourner Truth, a civil rights advocate from the 19th century.
Its keel was authenticated in June 2024 at General Dynamics NASSCO.
Military Sealift Command Pacific commander Micah Murphy said: “The Navy’s ability to project power across the globe depends on sustained operations at sea and that simply wouldn’t be possible without ships like USNS Sojourner Truth.
“Without MSC’s Combat Logistics Force, carrier strike groups and amphibious forces would be tethered to shore-based support, severely limiting their reach and operational tempo. In short, these ships enable US naval forces to remain forward-deployed, flexible, and ready to respond anywhere in the world on short notice.”
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By GlobalDataThe latest vessel has a capacity of 162,000 barrels capable of holding diesel ship fuel, aviation fuel, and dry stores cargo.
Designed with double hulls to prevent oil spills, the John Lewis class also feature reinforced cargo and ballast tanks and is equipped with basic self-defence capabilities.
These ships are set to replace the aging Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oilers.
Dr Brett Seidle, performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy, said: “We reserve the naming of our ships for special places, historic events and great people who represent the best among us, and who’s distinguished contributions are worthy of our remembrances for generations to come.
“In that vein, Sojourner Truth was a natural choice to be memorialised with a ship bearing her name.”
In addition to the Truth, three more Lewis-class oilers have been ordered for the Navy.
Former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced in July 2016 that the Lewis-class oilers would be named after figures such as Harvey Milk, Lucy Stone, Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman.
In September 2024, General Dynamics NASSCO celebrated the christening and launch of the USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209).
