USNS Cesar Chavez

USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14), a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship, is the first ship operated by the United States Navy to be named for Cesar Chavez (1927–1993), labor leader and civil rights activist.[1] Chávez joined the Navy at the age of seventeen in 1944 during World War II, and served for two years.[2]

USNS Cesar Chavez

History
Namesake	César Chávez
Awarded	26 February 2010
Builder	National Steel and Shipbuilding
Laid down	9 May 2011
Launched	5 May 2012
Sponsored by	Helen Chavez
In service	24 October 2012
Identification	IMO number: 9593127 MMSI number: 369989000 Callsign: NCCZ
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Lewis and Clark-class cargo ship
Displacement	41,000 tons (41,700 t)
Length	689 ft (210 m)
Beam	105.6 ft (32.2 m)
Draft	29.9 ft (9.1 m)
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 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Capacity	Max dry cargo weight:  5,910 LT (6,000 t) Max dry cargo volume:  783,000 cu ft (22,200 m3) Max cargo fuel weight:  2,350 LT (2,390 t) Cargo fuel volume:  18,000 bbl (2,900 m3)  (DFM: 10,500) (JP5:7,500)
Complement	49 military, 123 civilian
Aircraft carried	two helicopters

Cesar Chavez's keel was laid down on 9 May 2011 by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego.[3] The ship was launched on 5 May 2012.[4]