MV Buffalo Soldier (T-AK-9301)

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 US, 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)
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
  • MV TSgt John A. Chapman (T-AK 323)

References
  1. "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].
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