USNS Pililaau (T-AKR-304)

USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304) is the fifth Bob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship built by the Avondale Shipyards of New Orleans, Louisiana for the United States Navy. Pililaau is named after Private first class Herbert K. Pililaau, a Medal of Honor recipient.

Pililaau in 2008
History
United States
NamePililaau
NamesakeHerbert K. Pililaau
AwardedNovember 26, 1996
BuilderAvondale Shipyards, New Orleans, Louisiana
Laid downJune 29, 1998
LaunchedJanuary 29, 2000
HomeportNaval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans
Identification
Honors and
awards
1 National Defense Service Medal
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeBob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship
Displacement62,070 tons full
Length951 ft 5 in (290.0 m)
Beam106 ft (32.3 m)
Draft34 ft 10 in (10.6 m) maximum
Propulsion4 × Colt Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V diesels; 65,160 hp(m) (47.89 MW)(Beloit, WI) Falk Gear Power Transmission (Milwaukee, WI)
Speed24 knots (44 km/h)
RangeNot Disclosed
Capacity380,000 sq ft (35,000 m2) w/49,990 sq. ft. deck cargo
Complement26 to 45 civilian crew; up to 50 active duty
ArmamentUnarmed

Service history

Pililaau is one of 19 and is part of the 16 ships in Military Sealift Command's Sealift Program Office. It is currently owned by the government, but run under a contract by a private company. The ship is kept in operational ready status (ROS-4) at all times. The ship is designed to be a multifunctional part of any fleet. It is capable of general cargo transportation, and also as a means to load and unload ships without the benefit of deep draft-capable, fixed port facilities. The ship was used throughout the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to transfer equipment to friendly ports in Europe to be brought into the combat theater.

The ship carries no fixed guns but may support a detachment of security forces for defense.

References

    This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

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