John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk conducts sea trials

John Lewis-class replenishment oiler, the future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) has been conducting sea trials, according to the shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO.

In June 2016, the US Navy awarded a $3.2 billion contract to General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego to design and construct the first six ships of the Future Fleet Replenishment Ship, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205), with construction commencing in September 2018. The navy also revealed plans to procure 20 ships of the new class.

The John Lewis-class ships are based on commercial design standards and will recapitalize the current T-AO 187-class fleet replenishment oilers to provide underway fuel replenishment to Navy ships at sea.

Fleet replenishment oilers are part of the navy’s Combat Logistics Force.

USNS Harvey Milk was launched and christened on 6 November 2021. The ship is named in honor of the late politician and civil and human rights activist, who served in the Navy during the Korean War as a diving officer. After his naval career, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, becoming the first openly gay elected official in California. 

The Navy’s Military Sealift Command will operate the future USNS Harvey Milk.