SS Capella

SS Capella (T-AKR 293) is an Algol class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high speed container ship by Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V. in Rotterdam, Netherlands, hull no. 330, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. and named SS Sea-Land McLean, USCG ON 540413, IMO 7223508, after Sea-Land's founder Malcom McLean.[1][2] Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy on 16 April 1982 as USNS Capella (T-AK-293).[3]

USNS Capella (T-AKR-293) offloading military vehicles and supplies in the port of Mogadishu in support of Operation Restore Hope.
History
United States
NamesakeCapella
Operator United States Navy
BuilderRotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V.
Launched1 September 1972
Acquired16 April 1982
Identification
Honors and
awards
StatusReady Reserve
General characteristics
Class and typeAlgol class vehicle cargo ship
Displacement55,355 tons (full)
Length946 ft 2 in (288 m)
Beam105 ft 6 in (32 m)
Draft36 ft 4 in (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)
Speed33 knots
Capacity700+ military vehicles (including trucks, tanks, and helicopters)
Complement43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational), 18 civilians (reduced operating status)
ArmamentNone
Aviation facilitiesLanding pad

In keeping with the pattern of the naming the Algol-class ships after bright stars, the Capella was named after Capella, the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest in the night sky.

Conversion

Conversion began on 23 October 1982 at Pennsylvania Shipbuilding in Chester, Pennsylvania. Her cargo hold was redesigned into a series of decks connected by ramps so vehicles can be driven into and out of the cargo hold for fast loading and unloading. She was also fitted with two sets of two cranes; one set located at midship capable of lifting 35 tons, and another set located aft capable of lifting 50 tons.[2] She was delivered to the Military Sealift Command on 1 July 1984 as USNS Capella (T-AKR 293).[4]

Service

When not active, Capella is kept in reduced operating status due to her high operating cost. If needed, she can be activated and ready to sail in 96 hours.[5] Capella took part in the Persian Gulf War in 1990. Along with the other seven Algol class cargo ships, she transported 14 percent of all cargo delivered between the United States and Saudi Arabia during and after the war.[6] In 1994, Capella, along with USNS Denebola (T-AKR-289), worked with NATO forces on convoy exercises in the Mediterranean.[6]

On 1 October 2007, Capella was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration. On 1 October 2008, she was transferred to the Ready Reserve Force at Ready Reserve Fleet Alameda, losing her USNS designation.[6][7] If activated, Capella will report to the Military Sealift Command.[3]

Citations
  1. Cudahay 206 p. 265
  2. USNS Capella (T-AKR 293), retrieved 8 April 2009
  3. Ready Reserve Force Ships, retrieved 8 April 2009
  4. Service Ship Photo Archive: SS Capella (AKR-293), retrieved 8 April 2009
  5. Cargo – Fast Sealift – Support (FSS), Specialized, archived from the original on 14 May 2011, retrieved 8 April 2009
  6. 'U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command: Fact Sheet', December 2003, retrieved 8 April 2009
  7. Fast Sealift Ships – T-AKR, 22 January 2008, retrieved 8 April 2009

References
  • Cudahay, Brian J. (2006). Box Boats: How Container Ships Changed the World. Fordham University Press. ISBN 9780823225699.
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