USNS Paul Buck
USNS Paul Buck (T-AOT-1122) was originally constructed in 1985 by American Ship building Company, Tampa, Florida for Ocean Product Tankers of Houston for a long term charter to the United States Navy and operated by Military Sealift Command. The ship was delivered on 7 July 1985. It is a T-5 Tanker. The ship was named after Merchant Marine Paul Buck, who was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal.
 Paul Buck anchoring off Antarctica | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USNS Paul Buck |
| Builder | American Ship Building Company, Tampa, Florida |
| Laid down | 1985 |
| Launched | 7 July 1985 |
| Completed | as Ocean Champion |
| Acquired | by US Navy 11 September 1985 |
| In service | 11 September 1985 |
| Out of service | 30 June 2010 |
| Stricken | 30 June 2010 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Retained in Beaumont Reserve Fleet[1] |
| Status | Interim hold[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Oil Products Tanker Champion Class T-5 Tanker |
| Displacement | 21,470 tons full 39624 tons |
| Length | 615 |
| Beam | 90 ft |
| Draft | 24'8 ft |
| Installed power | Sulzer 5RTA76 diesel (18,400 hp sustained) |
| Propulsion | Single shaft |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Capacity | 237,766 bbls |
| Complement | 24 Civilians |
| Armament | unarmed |
| Aircraft carried | none |
Antarctic missions
Paul Buck made frequent deliveries of fuel to the Antarctic for resupply. This was the most common route that this ship made delivering a variety of fuel types to the base. It was always escorted by an ice breaker.
In 2010 the vessel was replaced by Empire State[2] and Paul Buck was taken out of service and transferred to the Maritime Commission's National Defense Reserve Fleet. The vessel was laid up in "Interim Hold" as of April 2020.[1]
References
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
- "National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory (April 2020)" (PDF). US Maritime Administration. US Department of Transportation. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- "Military Sealift Command upgrades tanker fleet". American Shipper. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org
- Tanker USNS Paul Buck at the Ice Pier at scottafar.com
- USNS Paul Buck Delivers to McMurdo at Seafarers International Union