Bob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship

The Bob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship is a class of Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off cargo ship used for prepositioning of military vehicles and other materiel by the United States. The lead ship of this class is USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300).

USNS Bob Hope in harbor at Souda Bay in Crete, Greece
Class overview
Builders	Avondale Shipyard
Cost	US$265 million (1993)[1] (equivalent to US$504.78 million in 2023)[2]
Built	1993–2001
In service	1998–
Completed	7
Active	2 Active, 5 Ready Reserve Force
General characteristics
Class and type	Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off
Displacement	62,069 tons full
Length	951 ft 5 in (290.0 m)
Beam	106 ft (32.3 m)
Draft	34 ft 10 in (10.6 m) maximum
Propulsion	4 × Colt Pielstick 10 PC4.2 V diesels; 65,160 hp(m) (47.89 MW)
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h)
Range	15,000 miles
Capacity	380,000 sq ft (35,000 m2), 1,000 wheeled or tracked military vehicles[3]
Complement	26 to 45 civilian crew; up to 50 active duty
Aviation facilities	Helicopter landing area

History

In June 2016, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) was awarded a design and construction contract for six John Lewis-class replenishment oilers.^[4] NASSCO began construction on John Lewis in September 2018, and began construction on Harvey Milk in September 2020.^[5] In January 2020 the lead ship delivery estimate was delayed from November 2020 until June 2021, due to delays in delivery of gear and flooding of a graving dock.^[6] In September of 2024, General Dynamics was awarded a contract for eight additional John Lewis-class ships, to be delivered by January of 2035.^[7]

Naming

The class is named for its lead ship, John Lewis, which is named for American politician and civil rights leader John Lewis. The remaining John Lewis-class oilers will be named after prominent civil rights leaders and activists.^[6]

Ships

Ship	Hull. No.	Namesake	Laid down	Launched	Delivered	Status	Refs
Bob Hope	T-AKR 300	Bob Hope	29 May 1993	27 March 1997	18 November 1998	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Fisher	T-AKR 301	Zachary Fisher	15 April 1996	21 October 1997	4 August 1999	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Seay	T-AKR 302	William W. Seay	24 March 1997	25 June 1998	28 March 2000	Active	[9]
Mendonca	T-AKR 303	Leroy A. Mendonca	3 November 1997	25 May 1999	30 January 2001	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Pililaau	T-AKR 304	Herbert K. Pililaau	29 June 1998	29 January 2000	24 July 2001	Active	[9]
Brittin	T-AKR 305	Nelson V. Brittin	3 May 1999	11 November 2000	11 July 2002	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]
Benavidez	T-AKR 306	Roy Benavidez	15 December 1999	11 August 2001	10 September 2003	Stricken, Ready Reserve Force	[8]