Military Sealift Command Ships Today

Military Sealift Command operates over 100 civilian-crewed ships which the U.S. Government considers non-combatant. In case of war, they will be required to go into war zones and will be subject to enemy attack -- as happened in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm. Some of these ships are operated by MSC employees, some by contracted companies utilizing union crews. In addition, about 100 other ships under the jurisdiction of the Maritime Administration are kept in "Ready Reserve" -- ready to be activated within 5 to 30 days. At that time they will come under the control of the Military Sealift Command.

These ships include the following types:

Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (33 ships) -- day-to-day supplies for the Navy including Underway Replenishment Oilers, Combat Stores ships, Ammunition ships, and Ocean-going tugs. In addition, 2 Hospital Ships are kept in "reduced operating status."

Prepositioning Ships (37 ships) -- strategically located ships pre-loaded with military equipment and supplies. Divided into 3 categories: Combat Prepositioning Force for the Army; Maritime Prepositioning Force for the Marine Corps; Logistics Prepositioning Ships for the Navy, Defense Logistics Agency, and Air Force.

Sealift Ships (26 ships) -- Ocean Transportation for U.S. Government includes chartered tankers, 12 chartered cargo ships.

Special Missions Program (30 ships) -- Oceanographic and Hydrographic Survey ships, Cable-Laying, Missile Range Instrumentation, Ocean Surveillance ships, Counterdrug ships, Deep Water Search and Rescue (chartered), Navy Submarine Test Support Escort (chartered).

Ready Reserve Force (90 ships) -- controlled by the Maritime Administration, but turned over to MSC during war or other emergency. The ships have a crew of about 8 mariners who live aboard. They use shore power, but run the engines regularly. On occasion they go out to sea with a full crew to practice under-way replenishment and participate in "Exercises." They include Roll-on/Roll-off Ships, Crane Ships, Breakbulk Ships, Tankers which can be activated in 4 to 20 days.

Ship Introduction Program -- transfers ships from commissioned Navy, oversees new construction or conversions.

Ships are listed by the first letter of the name or rank -- 1st Lt Alex Bonnyman is under "F"