SERVICE: Navy
DESCRIPTION: High-speed vessel, designed as oiler, ammunition and supply ship.
FEATURES:
The fast combat support ship (AOE) is the Navy's largest combat logistics ship. The AOE has the speed and armament to keep up with the carrier battle groups. It rapidly replenishes Navy task forces and can carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil, 2,150 tons of ammunition, 500 tons of dry stores and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. It receives petroleum products, ammunition and stores from shuttle ships and redistributes these items simultaneously to carrier battle group ships. This reduces the vulnerability of serviced ships by reducing alongside time.BACKGROUND:
In 1987, Congress appropriated the funds for the lead ship of the AOE 6 (Supply class). The Navy plans to provide a multi-product station ship for every carrier battle group.
