USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300), the lead ship of its class of vehicle cargo ships for United States Army vehicle prepositioning, was a naval ship of the United States named after Bob Hope, the entertainer. Very few ships of the United States Navy have been named after a person who was alive at the time of the christening.

Bob Hope in harbor at Souda Bay in Crete
History
United States
NameUSNS Bob Hope
NamesakeBob Hope
Awarded2 September 1993
BuilderAvondale Shipyard
Laid down29 May 1995
Launched27 March 1997
Completed18 November 1998
In service18 November 1998
Stricken19 December 2022
Identification
StatusStricken
General characteristics
Class and typeBob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship
Displacement62,069 tons full
Length951 ft 5 in (290.0 m)
Beam106 ft (32.3 m)
Draft34 ft 10 in (10.6 m) maximum
Propulsion4 x Colt Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V diesels; 65,160 hp (48,590 kW) Falk Gear Power Transmission
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity380,000 sq ft (35,000 m2)
Complement26 to 45 civilian crew; up to 50 active duty
Aviation facilitiesHelicopter landing area

The contract to build her was awarded to Avondale Industries on 2 September 1993 and her keel was laid down on 29 May 1995. She was launched on 27 March 1997, and delivered on 18 November 1998.[1][2]

A helicopter being loaded onto Bob Hope in Antwerp, Belgium

A non-combatant roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessel crewed by U.S. civilian mariners under the Navy's Military Sealift Command, Bob Hope and other ships of the class are used to preposition tanks, trucks and other wheeled vehicles and supplies needed to support an army heavy brigade.

She has seen service delivering supplies and equipment to the Balkans and Iraq.

Bob Hope was transferred to Marad on 19 December 2022.[2]

Features

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The ship has two 110-ton Hagglunds deck crane pedestals mounted with twin cranes.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "USNS Bob Hope (9820096)". ABS Record. American Bureau of Shipping. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b "BOB HOPE (AKR 300)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  3. ^ "T-AKR USNS Bob Hope". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
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