SEP03-02: Future USNS Wally Schirra Completes Acceptance Trials
From Team Ships Public Affairs
WASHINGTON - Following an extremely successful integrated acceptance trials, the U.S. Navy's Supervisor of Shipbuilding Bath detachment San Diego officially accepted delivery of USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) from General Dynamics-NASSCO on Sept. 1 - a month ahead of the contract delivery date. USNS Wally Schirra is the eighth ship of the Lewis and Clark-class to be delivered to the Navy.
"Delivering this ship early is a remarkable accomplishment for the shipbuilder and the Navy," said Frank McCarthey, the T-AKE class program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office for Ships. "The shipbuilder has the knowledge and the processes in place to continue realizing greater efficiencies, which are leading to increased cost savings."
NASSCO continues to make substantial reductions in labor hours from hull to hull on the program, and has invested significant capital in the yard over the last several years. T-AKEs have been delivering approximately one to two months early, with future ships delivering even earlier as the program compresses the overall build profile.
As a combat logistics force ship, USNS Wally Schirra will help the Navy maintain a worldwide forward presence by delivering ammunition, food, fuel, and other dry cargo to U.S. and allied ships at sea. The ship is designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea, and can carry and support two helicopters to conduct vertical replenishment. T-AKE 8 was launched and christened March 8 at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif. The T-AKE program has contract options for up to 14 ships with 12 ships fully under contract.
Continuing the Lewis and Clark-class tradition of honoring legendary pioneers and explorers, the Navy's newest underway replenishment ship recognizes Walter "Wally" Schirra Jr., a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Navy test pilot who served in both World War II and the Korean War. Schirra also holds the distinction of being the only astronaut to fly in each of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs.
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