USNS Charles Drew

USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship of the United States Navy, named in honor of Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904–1950), who developed improved techniques for blood storage, and applied his expert knowledge in developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II, saving thousands of Allied lives.[3]

USNS Charles Drew

USNS Charles Drew during 2010
History
Name	Charles Drew
Namesake	Dr. Charles R. Drew
Awarded	31 January 2008[1]
Builder	National Steel and Shipbuilding Company[1]
Laid down	17 March 2009[1]
Launched	27 February 2010[1]
Sponsored by	Mrs. Bebe Drew Price
Acquired	14 July 2010[2]
In service	2011
Identification	IMO number: 9508287 MMSI number: 369970428 Callsign: NDRE
Badge
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 6.6 kV power provided by two Fairbanks-Morse/MAN B&W 8L48/60 and two 9L48/60 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	49 military, 123 civilian
Electronic warfare & decoys	Nulka decoy launchers
Armament	2–6 × 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns or 7.62 mm medium machine guns
Aircraft carried	two helicopters, either Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk or Aerospatiale Super Puma

The contract to build Charles Drew was awarded to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) of San Diego, California, on 31 January 2008. Her keel was laid down on 17 March 2009. Charles Drew was christened and launched on 27 February 2010, sponsored by Mrs. Bebe Drew Price, the eldest daughter of Dr. Drew. The principal address at the ceremony was given by Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin, the Surgeon General of the United States.[4]

Charles Drew was delivered to Military Sealift Command on 14 July 2010 and began conducting missions for MSC in spring 2011 and will operate in the Pacific.[2]