The T-AKE is a dry cargo/ammunition ship, the lead ship in the Lewis and Clark class. Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing underway replenishment services, the T-AKE will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence. These ships will provide logistic lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea and will transfer cargo that includes ammunition, food, fuel, repair parts, and expendable supplies and material to station ships and other naval warfare forces at sea. The T-AKE will replace the aging T-AE ammunition ships and T-AFS combat stores ships that are nearing the end of their service lives. In October 2001, the Navy awarded NASSCO a $709-million contract for the design and construction of the first two ships in the T-AKE program, a new class of dry cargo/ammunition ships for the Military Sealift Command. The Navy exercised its option for a third T-AKE ship in July 2002, awarding a $290-million contract. In July 2003, the Navy exercised its option for a fourth T-AKE ship, awarding a $288-million contract. In January 2004, NASSCO received a $580-million contract to build two additional T-AKE ships, bringing the total to six. In January 2005, the seventh and eighth ships were awarded, bringing the total value of the program to $2.5 billion. In January 2006, the Navy exercised its option to build the ninth ship under the program, awarding a $317-million contract. In July 2007, the Navy awarded a $100-million Long-Lead Time Materials (LLTM) contract for the tenth T-AKE ship. The Navy fully funded T-AKE 10 and awarded a LLTM contract for the eleventh T-AKE ship in February 2008.  The program has the potential for a total of 14 ships to be awarded, with a total contract value of $5.2 billion, giving NASSCO a firm backlog through 2014. T-AKE Program Fact Sheet T-AKE 1 Photo Gallery USNS Lewis and Clark T-AKE 2 Photo Gallery USNS Sacagawea T-AKE 3 Photo Gallery USNS Alan Shepard T-AKE 4 Photo Gallery USNS Richard E. Byrd T-AKE 5 Photo Gallery USNS Robert E. Peary T-AKE 6 Photo Gallery USNS Amelia Earhart T-AKE 7 Photo Gallery USNS Carl Brashear T-AKE 8 Photo Gallery USNS Wally Schirra

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