T-AKE Characteristics and Mission

The T-AKE class vessels play a crucial role in the Combat Logistics Force (CLF) and are common assignments for CIVMARs with Military Sealift Command. With 14 vessels under MSC’s purview, 12 vessels are tasked with conducting underway replenishments (UNREPS), while the other 2 vessels are critical components of the Marine Corps Maritime Prepositioning Force. Being assigned to a T-AKE vessel is a common occurrence due to the number of ships under MSCs control and the larger crew size. These vessels offer a higher standard of living and engage in a variety of operations. If you sail with MSC long enough, you can certainly expect to receive more than 1 AKE assignment. From beans to bullets and Red Bull to jet engines, keep reading to learn more about the critical role and capabilities of AKEs within the Combat Logistics Fleet!

Regular T-AKE: A regular T-AKE will always have CIVMARs. Depending on the ship, there will either be an embarked military air detachment or a civilian air detachment. Depending on the area of operations, there may be a security detachment as well.

MSC Crew: 80-120 people.

Military Detachments (if applicable):

Air Detachments: 30-40 people

Security Detachment: 20-30 people.

Civilian Air Detachment (if applicable): 12 people. 

Preposition T-AKE Crew Size:

MSC Crew: 40-60 people.

Contractors: 4-5 people.

The T-AKE’s main mission is to provide cargo to the United States and allied Navies at sea. While AKEs can and do provide fuel, they are primarily tasked with moving cargo such as food, ammunition and repair parts.

The Combat Logistics Force (CLF) stands as an indispensable pillar of the United States Navy, providing essential logistical support that underpins the Navy’s global reach, operational readiness and mission effectiveness. By facilitating underway replenishment operations, CLF vessels ensure the continuous supply of fuel, ammunition, food, and other critical resources to naval forces at sea, allowing them to sustain operations far from home ports and logistical infrastructure.

This capability not only enhances operational continuity by reducing the need for frequent port visits but also extends the Navy’s force projection capabilities. This allows the Navy to project power and influence across multiple maritime domains. Whether conducting combat operations, training exercises, humanitarian assistance or disaster relief missions, the CLF fleet ensures naval forces remain well-equipped and mission ready. Additionally, T-AKEs provide flexibility, adaptability, and resilience, so the Navy’s can rapidly respond to emerging threats, crises, and contingencies in dynamic and challenging environments. Without CLF vessels, like T-AKEs, the Navy’s ability to sustain naval forces at sea would be limited and prevent Navy vessels from safeguarding national security interests on a global scale.

Underway replenishments (UNREPs) is the process of how the fleet sustaining materials are physically transferred at sea. There are two types of transfers that make an UNREP: Connected Replenishments (CONREPs) and Vertical Replenishments (VERTREPs).

CONREPs are conducted between a (CLF) vessel such as the T-AKE class and a Navy ship. While T-AKEs can provide fuel, they do not carry nearly as much fuel as the T-AO class vessel (tankers), so they mainly refuel smaller Navy vessels and not aircraft carriers. However, they regularly provide 600-1200 pallets of cargo to a carrier each event. CONREPs involve a series of coordinated steps. First, the vessels maneuver into position and maintain a precise distance from each other. Then, rig crews transfer fuel hoses and cargo lines between the ships. With careful monitoring and adjusting throughout the evolution, supplies such as fuel, ammunition, food, spare parts and other critical material are transferred “over the wire” to the customer vessel.

Simultaneously, an AKE can conduct a Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) with the connected ship, or another ship in the area. VERTREP, is a method of replenishing naval vessels at sea using helicopters. This technique is particularly useful when ships cannot or should not maneuver close together due to operational constraints, or they want the operation to go faster by doing it in conjunction with a CONREP. During VERTREP operations, supplies are loaded onto pallets and lifted by helicopters from one ship to the other. Once the helicopter reaches the receiving vessel, it hovers over a designated landing area, drops the material onto the deck and repeats the process.

If you are assigned to an AKE, expect to get into a rhythm of seeing and re-supplying a group of Navy ships. When deployed for long enough you will notice patterns and begin to judge your customers. Some customer ships are smooth sailing. The UNREPs go well, and the customer ships sends UNREP cookies at the end of the evolution as a sign of good will. Other customers just can’t get right and don’t send any treats! UNREPs are a delicate dance between two or more ships in the middle of the ocean in support of America’s interest. They truly are a sight to see! If you are new to MSC and want to learn more, check out the other articles on CIVMAR.com. Or, if you are a MSC veteran and have a good UNREP story, shoot us an email, we would love to share it!