USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Bridge.
History
United States of America
Name: USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10)
Ordered: 6 December 1989
Awarded: 15 January 1993
Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Company San Diego, California
Laid down: 2 August 1994
Launched: 24 August 1996
Commissioned: 5 August 1998
Decommissioned: 30 September 2014
In service: 29 June 2004
Homeport: Bremerton, Wash.
Status: Inactive as of 2016
General characteristics
Displacement: approx. 48,800 tons (49,600 t)
Length: 754.6 ft (230.0 m)
Beam: 107 ft (33 m)
Draught: 39 ft (12 m)
Propulsion:

four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines

105,000 hp (78 MW), Two Propellers
Speed: 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Complement: 176 civilians, 30-45 military
Aircraft carried: A combination of two MH-60S or SH-60

USNS Bridge is the fourth ship in the Supply class of fast combat support ships and the second ship in the United States Navy named after Commodore Horatio Bridge. Bridge was commissioned on 5 August 1998. Her commissioning CO was CAPT Robbie Williams (a SWO). The second CO was CAPT (now RADM) Rick Wren. In June 2001, CAPT (now VADM) Carol Pottenger relieved CAPT Wren. Bridge made four deployments as a commissioned warship. On 29 June 2004, Bridge was formally decommissioned and transferred from the United States Navy to the Military Sealift Command. Although the transfer to MSC occurred on 29 June 2004, the ceremony took place on 24 June 2004 (which is why the two dates are often interchanged). Bridge no longer carries the weapons systems she had been equipped with. As a commissioned warship, Bridge was equipped with two Phalanx Block 1 CIWS mounts, one NSSM launcher (with two Mk 91 directors), two Mk 38 25-mm chain guns, six .50 cal machine gun mounts,and two M-60 mounts (on the bow). (in addition to the M9 Berettas, M-14's, and 12-gauge Mossbergs issued to the watch standers).

In March 2011, in company with the carrier Ronald Reagan, the ship was deployed off northeastern Honshu, Japan to assist with relief efforts after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[1] One interpretation of multiple surveys and repeated tests for traces of radiation was suggested to indicate that during that time, the ship was not exposed to any leaking radiation from the Fukushima I nuclear accidents, however, the ship was then quickly decommissioned.[2] Bridge conducted 25 underway replenishment operations, delivering more than 1.8 millions gallons of fuel in support of Operation Tomodachi.[3]

In April 2013, it was announced that the MSC will take USNS Bridge and USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7) out of service in 2014 as a cost-saving measure.[4] The ships' gas turbine propulsion make them faster than other Navy supply ships, but also make them consume more fuel.[5]

As of 2016, the Rainier remains in active service, but Bridge is inactive.[6]

Notes

External links

Bridge replenishing Nimitz, February 2006
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