USAV Major General Robert Smalls

USAV Major General Robert Smalls (LSV-8) is a General Frank S. Besson Jr.-class roll-on/roll-off of US Army.

USAV Major General Robert Smalls and USAV Major General Charles P. Gross on 9 November 2012
History
United States
NameMajor General Robert Smalls
NamesakeRobert Smalls
Operator United States Army
BuilderVT Halter Marine, Pascagoula
Acquired21 June 2006
Commissioned15 September 2007
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeGeneral Frank S. Besson class roll-on/roll-off
Displacement4,199 long tons (4,266 t)
Length273 ft (83 m)
Beam60 ft (18 m)
Draft12 ft (3.7 m)
Propulsion2 × EMD 16-645E2; 1,950 hp (1,454 kW) each at 999 rpm
Speed
  • 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) light
  • 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) loaded
Range
  • 8,200 nmi (15,200 km) light
  • 6,500 nmi (12,000 km) loaded
Complement8 officers, 23 enlisted

Design edit

Named in honor of Gen. Frank S. Besson Jr., former Chief of Transportation, U.S. Army, these ships have bow and stern ramps and the ability to beach themselves, giving them the ability to discharge 900 short tons of vehicles and cargo over the shore in as little as four feet of water, or 2,000 short tons as an intra-theater line haul roll-on/roll-off cargo ship.[1] The vessel's cargo deck is designed to handle any vehicle in the US Army inventory and can carry up to 15 M1 Abrams main battle tanks or 82 ISO standard containers.[2]

Construction and career edit

She was acquired by the US Army on 21 June 2006 and commissioned on 15 September 2007 into the 605th Transportation Detachment, 8th Theater Sustainment Command.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Naval Technology – Frank S. Besson Class – LSV Logistics Support Vessel [1]
  2. ^ The United States Army News | New Army Vessel Arrives in Hawaii
  3. ^ "Army Ship Photo Index". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 4 June 2021.

External links edit