USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7) / USS Rainer (AOE-7)

History

During World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, limited communications systems, changes in weather, and changes in war strategy required planning and advance planning for U.S. "mobile replenishment at sea". The U.S.

Navy developed the multi-purpose "station ship" concept, resulting in the "fast combat support ship". Continued supply ships from past conflicts are often slow moving and require receiving ships to wait for a long time.

USS Rainier (AOE-7) is part of four powerful supply-class ships, which also include main ship USS Supply and sister ships USS Arctic and USS Bridge. The supply class carried more fuel than the largest tankers of the time and almost as much ammunition as the special ammunition ships of the time.

The USS Rainier is named after Mount Rainier in southwestern Washington state.

The USS Rainier (AOE-7) was born from the concept of the Fast Combat Support Ship (AOE) - a single-station, multi-role support ship that functions as a three-cargo ship and is equipped with inherent speed Ships with modern upgraded and supplemented aircraft carrier battle groups. The "shuttle ship" concept of four supply-class fast combat support ships allows for the redistribution of supplies and ordnance to fast carrier battle groups, significantly reducing resupply time.

USS Rainier (AOE-7) was built by National Shipbuilding and Shipbuilding Corporation of San Diego, California, and commissioned on January 21, 1995. She was designed essentially to combine the functions of three logistics support ships in one hull - an Fleet Refueling Ship (AO), an Ammunition Ship (AE) and a Reefer Ship (AF).

As a bunkering vessel, the vessel is licensed to carry over 1,965,600 gallons of marine diesel fuel, 2,620,800 gallons of jet fuel, 500 x 55 gallon lube drums and 800 bottles of propane gas. As an ammunition ship, the Rainier can meet the full ordnance needs of an aircraft carrier in just three hours, including 2,150 tons of bombs, a variety of air-launched and ship-borne missiles, and missile and artillery projectiles. Separate waterproof interior compartment.

Her onboard fridge and freezer also functions as a reefer vessel, holding 400 tons of fresh food.

A fully loaded warship like Rainier, due to its valuable supplies, provided a lucrative target for the enemy. As such, the ship is equipped with a range of defensive weapons, including the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System (NSSMS), 2 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), 2 x 25mm cannons and 4 x 12. 7mm Browning heavy machine gun. Together, these weapons can be used to repel incoming air and maritime threats, including cruise missiles, mines, speeding suicide craft and boarders trying to overtake their crew by force.

To counter the threat of underwater enemies such as submarines, she is equipped with the NIXIE torpedo decoy system and four decoy launchers.

USS Rainier (T-AOE-7) continues to serve the US Navy in this new form and was assigned to support USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) while participating in the 2004 exercise at the northern edge of the Gulf Alaska during Carrier Strike Group RIMPAC-04. She then raised the flag during visits to Japan and Malaysia. CVN-74 and its strike group - including T-AOE-7 - returned to Bremerton, Washington on January 19, 2005.

Stennis was then docked for 11 months for maintenance, during which time the USS Rainier (T-AOE 7) was transferred to support the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). On May 20, 2006, Reagan Strike Group (along with Rainier) deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of a regular U.S.

Navy rotation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).

In 2008, Carrier Strike Group 7 supported Operation Brimstone, a maritime exercise off the coast of North Carolina, from Virginia in the north to Florida in the south. USS Ronald Reagan and its 14th Carrier Wing are supported by the 7th Destroyer Squadron, which includes USS Rainier (T-AOE-7). In February 2009, Rainier was assigned to the Guam Shipyard in Port Apra, Guam, for a six-month drydock repair.

Upon completion, Rainier was transferred to support USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). In March 2010, the USS Rainier participated in Exercise South China Sea 2010, an exercise that promotes cooperation between the United States and international navies. Rainier was reassigned to the USS John C. Stennis in September 2011.

Stannis was deployed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf on planned missions, where she was supported by her strike group, which was fueled and armed by Rainier. In 2012, the USS Rainier was deployed to the Pacific Fleet's home port of San Diego - their mission is to resupply every US Navy ship off the coast of California or in the Western Pacific.

At the time of this writing (2012), it is scheduled for a major overhaul in 2013, which will make it a viable resupply platform for years to come.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing