Jane Edwards
A General Dynamics business christened and launched the fourth U.S. Navy John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler during a ceremony in San Diego.
The future USNS Robert F. Kennedy is a 742-foot-long ship designed to supply fuel to the service branch’s carrier strike group vessels at sea, General Dynamics NASSCO said Saturday.
The vessel is named after the 64th U.S. attorney general who championed African-American civil rights and countered organized crime.
John Lewis-class oilers are designed to travel at a speed of up to 20 knots and transport as much as 157,000 barrels of oil.
General Dynamics delivered the first two John Lewis-class ships to the Navy – USNS John Lewis and USNS Harvey Milk – and is building three more vessels.
In January, NASSCO held a christening ceremony for the third John Lewis-class fleet oiler, USNS Earl Warren.
