NAVSEA press release
The delivery of T-AO 206 follows the successful completion of acceptance trials with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey to test the readiness and capability of the ship and to validate requirements.
“We are excited to deliver the 2nd of class T-AO, USNS Harvey Milk, and expand the Navy’s capacity and capability to provide a fuel pipeline at sea. The fleet and her Sailors will benefit from enhanced at-sea operations.”
John Lighthammer, PM of Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office
T-AO 206, the second ship of the 20-ship class, will be operated by Military Sealift Command. The ship provides diesel fuel, lubricating oil and jet fuel; small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions and dry stores; and potable water to Navy ships at sea. T-AOs add underway replenishment capacity to the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and will become the cornerstone of the fuel delivery system.
Shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO is currently constructing USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207) and the future USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208), USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209) and USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210). Future USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211) and USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), and yet-to-be-named T-AO 213 are under contract.
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John Lewis-class main characteristics
| Type | Fleet replenishment oiler |
| Displacement | 49,850 tons full load |
| Length | 746 ft (227.4 m) |
| Beam | 106 ft 5 in (32.4 m) |
| Draft | 33.5 ft (10.2 m) maximum |
| Propulsion | Two medium-speed Fairbanks-Morse MAN 12V48/60CR diesel engines, two shafts, propellers |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Endurance | 6,147 nmi (11,384 km; 7,074 mi) |
| Complement | 125 total |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | AN/SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures |
| Armament | Multiple .50 caliber machine guns. Space, weight, and power reservations for Phalanx or SeaRAM CIWS |
| Aviation facilities | Helicopter flight deck |
| UNREP capabilities: | 5 refueling stations 2 dry cargo transfer rigs |
