The US Navy has christened the sixth John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler ship at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California.
The vessel is part of a 20-ship program to expand the force’s support assets for carrier strike groups, amphibious ready units, and other naval forces deployed internationally.
The USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210) was named after a prominent abolitionist who escaped slavery and fought for women’s rights, African-American civil rights, and alcohol temperance advocacy in the 19th century.
General Dynamics NASSCO has christened and launched the USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), the sixth ship in the fleet oiler program built for the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of Sojourner Truth, the historic abolitionist and women’s rights activist.
Performing the duties… pic.twitter.com/uMQQDb8bUN
— NASSCO (@GDNASSCO) April 28, 2025
During the event, Truth’s sixth-generation granddaughter served as the ship’s sponsor. The ceremony involved the breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship’s bow, followed by the ship’s first horn blow.
The keel was laid in June 2024. Upon its completion, the vessel will sail under the Military Sealift Command (MSC) to distribute fuel, dry cargo, personnel supplies, and aviation equipment for active warships.
“The Navy’s ability to project power across the globe depends on sustained operations at sea and that simply wouldn’t be possible without ships like USNS Sojourner Truth,” MSC Pacific Commander Capt. Micah Murphy stated at the event.
“Without MSC’s Combat Logistics Force, carrier strike groups and amphibious forces would be tethered to shore-based support, severely limiting their reach and operational tempo. In short, these ships enable US naval forces to remain forward-deployed, flexible, and ready to respond anywhere in the world on short notice.”
The John Lewis Class
America’s John Lewis-class system is 746 feet (227 meters) long and has a 107-foot (33-meter) beam.
It is powered by two diesel engines for a maximum speed of 20 knots (23 miles/37 kilometers per hour) and a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles (6,905 miles/11,112 kilometers).
The ship is armed with .50-caliber machine guns, close-in weapon systems, surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, and torpedo countermeasures.
Alongside distributed goods and capabilities, the vessel can carry over 120 personnel and a maritime helicopter.
It’s christening week and the flag is flying high!🎇
We’re counting down to a weekend of celebration as we launch the future USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210) and mark another proud achievement for our shipbuilders. pic.twitter.com/LLocI21vfG
— NASSCO (@GDNASSCO) April 21, 2025
