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SS Algol (T-AKR 287)

- formerly USNS Algol (T-AKR 287), formerly T-AK 287, formerly SS SEA-LAND EXCHANGE -

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Named after the star in the constellation Perseus, the SS ALGOL is the first ship in a class of eight strategic sealift ships and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. Originally built in the Netherlands in 1973 as SS SEA-LAND EXCHANGE for Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J., the ship was purchased by the Navy in 1981 and converted. The cargo hold was redesigned into a series of decks connected by ramps so that vehicles can now be driven in and out of storage areas for rapid loading and unloading. Four cranes were installed - twin cranes amidships capable of lifting 35 long tons and twin cranes aft capable of lifting 50 long tons. In 1984, the ALGOL was delivered to the Military Sealift Command.

Since then, the ALGOL was involved in several operations including Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990/91), Restore Hope (1992) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2001 - ). On October 1, 2007, the ALGOL was transferred to the MARAD. On October 1, 2008, the ship was transferred to the Ready Reserve Force and lost her USNS designation.

General Characteristics:Keel laid: November 1, 1971
Launched: September 1, 1972
Delivered to Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J.: May 1, 1973
Purchased by the Navy: October 13, 1981
Conversion started: October 13, 1982
Delivered: June 22, 1984
Builder: Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Conversion yard: National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, CA
Propulsion system: two Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875 psi (61.6kg/cm2); 9500F (5100C) and two GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000 hp (89.5 MW)
Propellers: two
Length: 946.2 feet (288.4 meters)
Beam: 105.6 feet (32.2 meters)
Draft: 36.4 feet (11.1 meters)
Displacement: approx. 55,355 tons full load
Speed: 33 knots
Aircraft: helicopter landing area only
Armament: none
Capacity: more than 700 Army vehicles (including tanks, trucks, and helicopters)
Crew: 43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational); 18 civilians (reduced operating status)
Homeport: Alameda, CA


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard SS ALGOL. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.


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The photo below was taken by Stefan Karpinski and shows the ALGOL underway in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002.



The photo below was taken by me and shows the ALGOL berthed alongside her sistership CAPELLA (T-AKR 293) at their layberth at Alameda, Calif., on October 10, 2012.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the ALGOL berthed at San Francisco, Calif., on October 6, 2022.



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