The highly coveted award was bestowed on the USNS Kanawha oiler, marking the first time a support ship in the Military Sealift Command received it.

In May, the United States Navy’s newest and largest supercarrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), completed a historic deployment—the longest since the Vietnam War—for which the carrier and its strike group received a Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), which escorted the aircraft carrier, was also presented with a PUC for its service during the 11-month-long deployment.

It was reported this weekend that another US Navy vessel will receive the nation’s highest unit-level military honor, although this vessel is not an actual warship!

The Norfolk, Virginia-based Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196) is set to become the first auxiliary ship to receive the combat award, Task & Purpose first reported. T-AO-196 is operated by the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command and crewed by civilian mariners.

Although the USNS Kanawha wasn’t deployed for as long as the nuclear-powered supercarrier or the guided-missile destroyer, the oiler, along with its crew of 92 civil service mariners, spent 204 days away from Naval Station Norfolk—operating at sea 156 of those days in the US 4th, 5th, and 6th Fleets area of responsibility.

As noted by the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the fleet replenishment oiler and her crew “served as a strategic enabler,” which allowed CVN-78 and DDG-81 to complete their mission in both Operations Southern Spear in the Caribbean and Epic Fury in the Middle East. During that time, T-AO-196 “delivered more than 17 million gallons of fuel, 3,000 pallets of supplies, and transported 45 personnel, performing 113 replenishments to 29 U.S. and coalition vessels.”

The Kanawha completed her deployment on May 16, arriving at Naval Station Norfolk the same day as the supercarrier.

“I would like to thank the Kanawha crew and their families,” said Navy Capt. Elizabeth A. Nelson, Military Sealift Command Atlantic commodore. “The Kanawha was underway for seven long months supporting [the USS] Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. Without the support of their families, they would not have been able to accomplish their mission. Kanawha’s performance exemplifies how MSC’s combat logistics force powers modern naval operations, directly fueling US Navy readiness at sea.”

About the Henry J. Kaiser-Class Fleet Replenishment Oilers

• Year Introduced: 1986
• Number Built: 16 (14 in service with US Navy Military Sealift Command, 1 in service with Chilean Navy)
• Length: 677.5 ft (206.5 m)
• Beam (Width): 97.5 ft (29.7 m)
• Draft: 35 to 36 ft (11 m)
• Displacement: 14,766 tons (empty); 40,900 to 42,382 tons (full load)
• Propulsion: Two medium-speed diesel engines generating approximately 32,000 to 34,442 horsepower across two shafts
• Speed: 20 knots (23 mph)
• Fuel Capacity: 156,000 to 180,000 barrels of marine diesel and JP-5 jet fuel (varies by ship design)
• Dry Cargo Space: 7,400 sq ft
• Replenishment Stations: Up to 5 fueling stations capable of pumping up to 900,000 gallons of diesel and 540,000 gallons of jet fuel per hour
• Armament: Defensive only (multiple .50-caliber machine guns and small arms)
• Aviation: Helicopter flight deck for vertical replenishment (VERTREP) operations
• Crew: 70–89 civilian mariners and a small US Navy detachment of 5–20+ personnel for communications and security

The United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command currently operates 14 Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers. The vessels provide replenishment for US Navy warships, including dry stores and aviation fuel for aircraft carriers underway. The aging refuelers are set to be phased out by the John Lewis-class replenishment oilers, but the small total number of refuelers in service—a potential Achilles heel for the US Navy—means that the Kaiser class are likely to remain in service for some time.

The Presidential Unit Citation: A Historic First for Military Sealift Command

Receiving a PUC is a rare honor for any United States Navy vessel. As noted, this marks the first time a Military Sealift Command auxiliary ship will receive one.

The 10th Henry J. Kaiser­-class refueler, the USS Kanawha, was previously awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, the second-highest unit award in the US Navy behind the PUC, for supporting US military operations in the Middle East against the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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