NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — USNS Supply, a Combat Logistics Force vessel, is returning to Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday after an 8-month deployment.
It’s scheduled to return around 1:30 p.m. and be tied down at 2 p.m., the Navy says.
The Supply (T-AOE 6), formerly USS Arctic (AOE – 6), had a critical role as the support vessel for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group. The strike group’s main vessel, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, returned home on July 15 after a historic 9-month deployment.
“As part of the U.S.-led multinational coalition, Supply’s role was pivotal to keep the Fleet in the fight and ensure freedom of navigation for all countries to bolster regional security and prosperity,” the Navy said. “Steaming 50,100 nautical miles over the course of 247 days, Supply served as the sole fast combat support vessel responsible for performing 143 underway replenishments with U.S. Navy and coalition ships from Great Britain, France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Canada and transferring more than 87 million gallons of fuel and 14,928 pallets of critical cargo and supplies.”
The Navy says the USNS Supply was underway for 183 days in total, and its 131-member crews help support 16 U.S. Navy and 15 coalition ships, helping them continue to operate for extended periods.
The Supply is civilian-crewed and doesn’t carry the weapons systems it once did as the USS Supply and USS Arctic. It’s one of two fast combat support ships currently operated by Combat Logistics Force, which is comprised of 33 ships in total. That includes 17 fleet replenishment oilers and 14 ordnance and dry cargo ships.