Future USNS John Lewis Keel Authenticated

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The keel for the
future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), the Navy’s first John Lewis-class fleet
replenishment oiler, was ceremonially laid at General Dynamics-National Steel
and Shipbuilding Co. on May 13, Naval Sea Systems Command said in a release.

A keel laying is the ceremonial
recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. It is the joining together
of a ship’s modular components and the authentication or etching of an
honoree’s initials into a ceremonial keel plate. The ship’s namesake, Rep. John
Lewis (D-Ga.), and the ship’s sponsor, actress Alfre Woodard, etched their
initials into the keel plate.

“We’re honored to have
Representative Lewis and Ms. Woodard with us today as we lay the foundation for
recapitalizing our nation’s critical fuel-replenishment-at-sea
capabilities,” said Mike Kosar, Support Ships, Boats and Craft program manager,
Program Executive Office-Ships. “These ships are steadfast, reliable and
allow our warships to defend our freedoms for which Representative Lewis has
dedicated his life to protecting.”

The John Lewis-class ships are based
on commercial design standards and will recapitalize the current T-AO 187-class
fleet replenishment oilers to provide underway replenishment of fuel to U.S.
Navy ships at sea. These ships are part of the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force.

John Lewis will be operated by the
Navy’s Military Sealift Command and is the first ship named after the civil
rights leader and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. Construction of John
Lewis began in September 2018, with delivery planned in late 2020.