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SS Antares (T-AKR 294)

- formerly USNS Antares (T-AKR 294), formerly T-AK 294, formerly SS SEA-LAND GALLOWAY -

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Named after the star in the constellation Scorpio, the ANTARES is eighth and last ALGOL - class fast sealift ship and the third ship in the Navy to bear the name. Ships in that class are the world's fastest cargo ships. Originally built in West Germany in 1972 as SS SEA-LAND GALLOWAY for Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J., the ship was purchased by the Navy in 1982 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. The ANTARES was delivered to the Military Sealift Command in 1984.

Since then, the ANTARES was involved in several operations including Operation Enduring Freedom (2001 - ), Joint Guardian (1998/99), and Restore Hope (1992). The ANTARES originally also was scheduled to participate in Operation Desert Shield/Deser Storm (1990/91). But the ANTARES failed off the East coast of the United States with a considerable amount of the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) equipment aboard. The ship was towed to Spain. Some of the cargo was airlifted to Saudi Arabia but most had to be unloaded and reloaded aboard another FSS returning from her initial voyage. This cargo arrived about three weeks later than planned. Before the war, the ANTARES had been scheduled for major overhaul, but this was delayed. Thus a degree of risk was accepted in the decision to use ANTARES to speed the deployment.

On October 1, 2007, the ANTARES 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:Awarded: August 1, 1969
Launched: May 1, 1972
Delivered to Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J.: September 1,1972
Purchased by the Navy: April 16, 1982
Conversion started: October 6, 1982
Delivered: July 12, 1984
Builder: A.G. Weser, Bremen, West Germany
Conversion yard: Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, LA
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: Baltimore, MD


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Crew List:

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


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The photos below were taken by me and show the ANTARES at her layberth in Baltimore, Md., on October 31, 2010. The ship alongside is DENEBOLA (T-AKR 289).



The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the ANTARES at her layberth at Baltimore, Md., on October 15, 2016.



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