GenDyn delivers cargo-ammunition ship

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SAN DIEGO, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has received its 12th T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ship, the USNS William McLean, from General Dynamics NASSCO.

NASSCO began constructing USNS William McLean in September 2009.

The ship will carry supplies and equipment required to support U.S. Marine Corps operations anywhere in the world.

NASSCO incorporated international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features into T-AKE class ships to minimize operating costs during their projected 40-year service life.

With a cargo capacity of more than 10,000 tons, the primary mission of T-AKE ships is to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships at sea.

They have also been used in Navy humanitarian efforts in Haiti, Pakistan and elsewhere.

General Dynamics NASSCO employs more than 3,300 people and is the only major ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States.

In addition to T-AKE 12, the San Diego shipyard has delivered 11 T-AKE ships to the Navy and is building the Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) and the Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) for a total class of 14 vessels.