Navy to Christen USNS Sacagawea

[AT3Weins]

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 576-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jun 20, 2006 Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry(703)428-0711

Navy to Christen USNS Sacagawea

The Navy will christen the USNS Sacagawea, the newest ship in the
Lewis and Clark class of underway replenishment ships on Saturday, June 24,
2006, during a 7:15 p.m. PDT launching at National Steel and Shipbuilding
Company, San Diego, Calif.



The name Sacagawea will honor the Lemhi Shoshone woman who acted
as guide and interpreter for Lewis and Clark on their expedition into the
Northwest region of the United States. This well documented expedition of two
years and 6,000 miles opened routes to vast new territories throughout the
American West which allowed passage for American settlers and traders.
Legendary for her perseverance and resourcefulness, Sacagawea (1788-1812)
provided invaluable assistance to the explorers through her knowledge of
topography and edible roots and plants previously unknown to
European-Americans.



She single-handedly saved the expedition's records after they had
fallen into the Missouri River when their canoe capsized. If she had not
rescued these journals, much of the record of the first year of the expedition
would have been lost to history. This act demonstrated her dedication to the
journey's success. Two harbor tugs, YT 241 (1942) and YT 326 (1942-1945),
have been named Sacagawea.



Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Duncan Hunter
of California, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Lucy Honena
Diaz and Rachael Lynne Ariwite, familial descendants of Sacagawea, will serve
as co-sponsors of the ship. The launching ceremony will be highlighted in the
time-honored Navy tradition when each sponsor breaks a bottle of champagne
across the bow to formally christen the ship "Sacagawea." Amy Mossett, a
Mandan-Hidatsa member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, will
serve as honorary matron of honor.



The USNS Sacagawea is the second ship in the Navy's new 11-ship
T-AKE Class. T-AKE is a combat logistics force vessel intended to replace
the current capability of the T-AE 26 Kilauea-Class ammunition ships, T-AFS 1
Mars-Class combat stores ships and, when operating with T-AO 187 Henry J.
Kaiser-Class oiler ships, the AOE 1 Sacramento-Class fast combat support
ships. The USNS Sacagawea is 689 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105
feet, a navigational draft of 30 feet, and displaces approximately 42,000
tons. Powered by a single-shaft diesel-electric propulsion system, the ship
can reach a speed of 20 knots.



Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea
while providing replenishment services to U.S., NATO and allied ships, the
USNS Sacagawea will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain
a worldwide forward presence. Ships such as the Sacagawea provide logistic
lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea from specially equipped
merchant ships. She will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities
of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material)
to ships and other naval warfare forces at sea.



As part of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, the ship will be
designated USNS. The term stands for United States Naval Ship. Unlike their
United States Ship (USS) counterparts, USNS vessels are manned primarily by
civilian crews working for the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command, Washington,
D.C.



Additional information about this class of ship is available on
line at
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=500&ct=4
[http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=500&ct=4] .