Navy christens fleet oiler USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210)

Military Sealift Command’s newest fleet replenishment oiler, USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), was christened during a ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, on April 27.

Performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, Dr. Brett Seidle served as the principal speaker at the ceremony. Remarks were also delivered by NASSCO President Dave Carver and representatives of the Navy. Following remarks, ship sponsor Barbara M. Allen christened the vessel with the traditional champagne bottle break across the hull.

Allen is a sixth-generation descendant of the ship’s namesake, Sojourner Truth, an escaped slave who became an abolitionist and activist for African-American civil rights, women's rights, and alcohol temperance.

“We reserve the naming of our ships for special places, historic events and great people who represent the best among us, and who’s distinguished contributions are worthy of our remembrances for generations to come,” said Seidel. “In that vein, Sojourner Truth was a natural choice to be memorialized with a ship bearing her name.”

“What we christen tonight is not just a ship — it’s the embodiment of American unity that will carry Sojourner Truth’s legacy, and the legacy of America, all over the world,” said Carver. “This ship reminds us that service takes many forms — and that truth, courage, and conviction must always guide our mission.”

After the ship was christened, it blew its horns and slid down the rails amid a fanfare of music from the Navy Band Southwest and a shower of red, white, and blue streamers.

The 746’ Sojourner Truth is the sixth ship of the John Lewis-class of fleet replenishment oilers, designed as a replacement to the aginig Kaiser-class fleet for refueling Navy carrier strike group ships at sea. Truth has the ability to carry 162,000 bbls. of diesel ship fuel, aviation fuel, and dry stores cargo. The John Lewis-class have a full load displacement of 49,850 tons and a top speed of 20 knots. The ships are built with double hulls to protect against oil spills and strengthened cargo and ballast tanks and will be equipped with a basic self-defense capability.

General Dynamics NASSCO was initially awarded the contract to design and build the first nine ships in the T-AO program. Last summer, the Navy signed a new contract for the construction of up to eight additional John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 214 through 221), making the T-AO program the longest Navy production series in NASSCO’s history, according to the shipbuilder.

The first four ships in the class —USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207), and USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208) — have been delivered to the Navy. The Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211) and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212) are currently under construction. Work is also set to begin on the USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213).