MV Buffalo Soldier (T-AK-9301) is a roll-on/roll-off ship, formerly of the French Government Line (now merged into CMA CGM). She was sold and reflagged U.S., renamed to honor Buffalo Soldiers, and chartered by the United States Navy Military Sealift Command as a Maritime Prepositioning ship serving at Diego Garcia laden with U.S. Air Force munitions. She is self-sustaining, that is, she can unload herself, an asset in harbors with little or no infrastructure. Her 120-long-ton-capacity roll-on/roll-off ramp accommodates tracked and wheeled vehicles of every description. While she is not currently in service with MSC, ships with her general characteristics are designated Buffalo Soldier class, fleet designation AK 2222.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Monet |
| Owner | French Government Line |
| Builder | Chantier naval de La Ciotat (in French) |
| Launched | 9 July 1977 |
| Completed | 1978 |
 United States | |
| Name | MV Buffalo Soldier |
| Namesake | Buffalo Soldiers |
| Owner | RR and VO Partnership |
| Out of service | 2001; returned to owners at completion of MSC charter |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Buffalo Soldier-class T-AK container & roll-on/roll-off ship |
| Displacement | 26,378 long tons (26,801 t) |
| Length | 670 ft (200 m) |
| Beam | 87 ft (27 m) |
| Draft | 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 19 civilian, 0 military |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^
"AK 9301 Buffalo Soldier". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
The Naval Vessel Register considered these two ships to be units of the AK 2222 Ship Class, though their characteristics are dis-similar [and indeed there does not appear to be a ship designated AK 2222].
External links
edit- Photo gallery of MV Buffalo Soldier at NavSource Naval History
- Maritime Prepositioning Squadron Two
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