SS Wright

Last updated

SS Wright (T-AVB-3) underway at sea on 26 January 2007.jpg
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameSS Wright
Builder Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi
Laid down1 June 1968
Launched1 July 1969
Acquired1 February 1970
RenamedSS Wright (T-AVB-3), 14 May 1986
Identification
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeWright-class Aviation Logistics Support (Roll-on/Roll-off) Container Ship
Displacement
  • 8,106 long tons (8,236 t) light
  • 23,800 long tons (24,182 t) full
Length602 ft (183 m)
Beam90 ft (27 m)
Draft30 ft (9.1 m)
PropulsionGeared steam turbine, single propeller
Speed18.7 knots (34.6 km/h; 21.5 mph)
Complement362 (37 merchant mariners and 1 Aircraft Maintenance Detachment)

SS Wright (T-AVB-3) is one of two Aviation Logistics Support (Roll-on/Roll-off) Container Ships converted for the United States Navy in 1986, along with sister ship SS Curtiss (T-AVB-4). The ship honors aviation pioneers the Wright brothers.

Contents

History

The lead ship of her class, she was originally laid down 1 June 1968 at Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi as SS Mormacsun, ON 524416, IMO 6924571, a Maritime Commission type (C5-S-78) combination breakbulk, container, Ro-Ro vessel under Maritime Administration contract (MA 224) for Moore-McCormack Lines. Launched 1 July 1969, she was delivered to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 1 February 1970 and subsequently sold and renamed SS Young America on 19 October 1970 for service with American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines. In 1978 the ship was sold again to Farrell Lines without name change. In 1981 the ship was turned over to MARAD. Converted and renamed SS Wright (T-AVB-3) on 14 May 1986, the ship was assigned to MARAD Ready Reserve Force (RRF), MSC PM-5 Sealift Program Office, Logistics Prepositioning Force.

Wright provides support for Marine Corps helicopters. Wright is outfitted with both a stern ramp and side ports. Their roll-on/roll-off deck runs the complete length of the ship. When outfitted with mobile facilities, the ships can service aircraft while anchored offshore. [1]

Government service

On 27 August 1990, MALS-14 FWD deployed aboard Wright to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield. The deployment's complement of Marines included aircraft maintenance and supply specialists from several Marine Corps bases located on the east coast of the United States. After debarking the rotary wing support package in Saudi Arabia, Wright berthed at the port in Manama, Bahrain where the balance of MALS-14 FWD provided support to Marine Corps squadrons stationed in that country.

MALS-14 FWD debarked from Wright in December 1990 at the port of Al Jubayl to continue operations ashore. MALS-29 (Reinforced) boarded Wright Jan 3, 1991. She was to remain in port to provide support for other operations in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

From January 2003 to July 2003, approximately 330 Marines, Sailors and civilians comprising Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 14 (-)(Reinforced) Forward, from 12 Marine Corps units and four major bases or air stations were deployed aboard Wright to provide intermediate level maintenance support – including airframes, avionics, ordnance, aviation life support systems, and aviation supply to Marine Aircraft Group 11 Forward ashore, and to other Marine Corps aviation forces afloat during the Operation Iraqi Freedom. There were approximately 20 to 40 civilian contractors crewing the ship. In December 2002, Wright departed from Baltimore, Maryland and in January ported in Morehead City, North Carolina. Marines and contractors loaded the ship and departed in January for the Persian Gulf. [2]

In November 2012 Wright was mobilized to support relief operations after Hurricane Sandy caused damage to the New York/New Jersey region. The ship served as lodging for American Red Cross volunteers, Americorps, FEMA corps, Montana Conservation Corps, Washington Conservation Corps and Virginia Military Institute all who were deployed to support the organizations Hurricane Sandy response. The ship shared a dock near the St George ferry on Staten Island, NY with the USTS Kennedy which served as lodging for FEMA staff and contractors. [3]

In September 2017, Wright was mobilized to support relief operations with 1.1 million MREs for the United States Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria destroyed much of the islands' infrastructure. [4]

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Arifjan</span> United States military base in Kuwait

Camp Arifjan is a United States Army installation in Kuwait which accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. The camp is funded and was built by the government of Kuwait. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Romania and Poland are also forward-deployed there. Camp Arifjan is located south of Kuwait City, and west of the Shuaiba Port and Kuwait Naval Base (KNB). Camp Arifjan is divided into 7 zones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 (MALS-11) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps, part of Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11), currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and also part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 26</span> Military unit

Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station New River composed of seven MV-22 Osprey squadrons, one of which is the Fleet Replacement Squadron, an aviation logistics squadron, and a wing support squadron. It falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and II Marine Expeditionary Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Wing Support Squadron 271</span> Military unit

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Wing Support Squadron 274</span> Military unit

Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 (MWSS-274) is an aviation ground support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The squadron falls under the command of Marine Wing Support Group 27 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Marine Expeditionary Unit</span> Military unit

The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of a command element, a reinforced infantry battalion, a composite helicopter squadron and a logistics combat element. The 11th MEU is currently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California with headquarters in Camp Del Mar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 (MALS-16) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the Immortals, they are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 (MALS-13) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Black Widows", it is currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, as part of Marine Aircraft Group 13 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 (MALS-14) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 (MALS-29) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Wolverines", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 29 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station New River. MALS 29 supports multiple types of aircraft and provides detachments to aviation combat elements operating globally in support the United States National Defense Strategy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39 (MALS-39) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. Known as the "Hellhounds", they fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 42</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 42 was a reserve aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They fell under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 42 and 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Naval Air Station Atlanta. MALS-42 provided direct support to VMFA-142 and HMLA-773 and Navy squadrons VAW-77 and VR-46 and indirect support to two tactical Marine squadrons HMLA-773 Det A and HMM-774. Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation, MALS-42 was deactivated in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28</span> Military unit

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 (MWCS-28) is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. They are based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and fall under the command of Marine Air Control Group 28 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 (MALS-26) is an aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are currently based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 41 (MALS-41) is a reserve aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 and 4th Marine Aircraft Wing and are currently based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. MALS-41 provides intermediate level maintenance support to VMFA-112 and VMGR-234 with an additional detachment in MCAS Miramar supporting VMM-764.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combat Logistics Regiment 17</span> Military unit

Combat Logistics Regiment 17 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. It is subordinate to the command of the 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

USTS Empire State VI (T-AP-1001), callsign KKFW, IMO number 5264510, was a troop ship of the United States Navy and training vessel of the United States Maritime Service.

SS <i>Curtiss</i> Marine aviation logistics support ship

SS Curtiss (T-AVB-4) is one of two Wright-class aviation logistics support ship converted for the Military Sealift Command by Todd Shipyards in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49</span> Military unit

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 (MALS-49) is a reserve aviation logistics support unit of the United States Marine Corps. They are currently based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York and fall under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 49 (MAG-49) and the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron 49 is the only MALS in the 4th MAW with an active duty core of maintenance and aviation supply personnel. MALS-49 is currently structured with six separate and distinct divisions of maintenance, supporting three separate and distinct sites, along with five flying squadrons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 40</span> Military unit

Marine Aircraft Group 40 is a composite United States Marine Corps aviation unit that is based in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. They served as the aviation combat element for 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade which was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom from spring 2009 through April 4, 2010 when they were relieved by the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd). The group is currently composed of two CH-53 squadrons, one light attack helicopter squadron, one AV-8B Harrier II squadron, one MV-22 Osprey squadron, one KC-130 tactical aerial refueling squadron, one unmanned aerial vehicle squadron and an aviation logistics squadron.

References


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.