WASHINGTON (USTCNS) --- The Military Sealift Command is acquiring a new class of combat logistics ships, hull designator T-AKE, named the Lewis and Clark class.

The T-AKE auxiliary dry cargo carrier acquisition program will consist of 12 ships with a budget of approximately $4 billion.

The T-AKE will replace the existing T-AE 26-class of ammunition ships and the T-AFS 1 and 8-classes of combat stores ships. Also, when a T-AKE operates with a T-AO 187-class oiler, it can also replace the AOE 1-class fast combat stores ship.

Like the rest of the MSC fleet, T-AKE ships will be built to commercial maritime industry standards.

Government concept dimensions put the Lewis and Clark class at 689 feet long, with a beam of 106 feet and a draft of 29.5 feet. Maximum dry cargo weight is 5,910 long tons, and maximum cargo fuel volume is 18,000 barrels -- 10, 500 barrels of marine diesel fuel and 7,500 barrels of jet fuel.

The Lewis and Clark-class cargo carriers are designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea, providing all three major replenishment activities for U.S. and NATO ships.

Refueling by operating with a T-AO oiler and delivering munitions and dry cargo from one platform enables the combat fleet to be forward deployed without having to rendezvous and replenish separately from supply ships, oilers and ammunition carriers. Lewis and Clark-class ships will also provide logistic lift capability, maintaining two helicopters for replenishment to and from ports or vessels at sea.

The T-AKE class name -- Lewis and Clark -- is in honor of two legendary American explorers, Army Capt. Meriwether Lewis and Lt. William Clark.

The T-AKE class program is currently in the acquisition process, having awarded multiple contracts earlier this year to conduct studies of integrated ship and cargo system design.

Avondale Industries, Friede Goldman Halter, Ingalls Shipbuilding and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company won contracts for this phase. The construction contract is expected to be awarded in early 2001, with the first T-AKE expected to deliver in 2004.

MSC, a Navy command, is the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense. MSC operates more than 110 active ships around the world. Ship missions vary from the transport and afloat prepositioning of defense cargo to underway replenishment and other direct support to Navy ships at sea and at-sea data collection for the U.S. military and other U.S. government agencies. (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).