.JPEG) USNS Antares (T-AKR-294) taking on vehicles and equipment in Bremerhaven, Germany, during Operation Reforger '86.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | Antares |
| Operator |  United States Navy |
| Awarded | 1 August 1969 |
| Builder | A.G. Weser, Bremen |
| Launched | 1 May 1972 |
| Acquired | 16 April 1982 |
| Identification |
|
| Honors and awards |  National Defense Service Medal |
| Status | Ready Reserve |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Algol class vehicle cargo ship |
| Displacement | 55,355 tons (full) |
| Length | 946 ft 2 in (288 m) |
| Beam | 105 ft 6 in (32 m) |
| Draft | 36 ft 4 in (11 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 33 knots |
| Capacity | 700+ military vehicles (including trucks, tanks, and helicopters) |
| Complement | 43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational), 18 civilians (reduced operating status) |
| Armament | None |
| Aviation facilities | Landing pad |
SS Antares (T-AKR 294) is an Algol class vehicle cargo ship that is currently maintained by the United States Maritime Administration as part of the Military Sealift Command's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). She was built as a high speed container ship by A.G. Weser in Bremen, West Germany, hull no. 1382, for Sea-Land Service, Inc. Baptized in Bremerhaven by Helga Wedekind, the ship was named SS Sea-Land Galloway, USCG ON 542200, IMO 7226897.[1][2] Due to her high operating cost, she was sold to the United States Navy on 16 April 1982 as USNS Antares (T-AK-294).[3]
In keeping with the pattern of the naming the Algol-class ships after bright stars, the Antares was named after Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius.
- ^ Cudahay 206 p. 265