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USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8)

- formerly USS ARCTIC AOE 8 -
- Military Sealift Command -





USNS ARCTIC is the third ship in the SUPPLY - class of fast combat support ships and is the fifth supply ship to carry the name of the region surrounding the North Pole. Since June 14, 2002, ARCTIC is operated by the Military Sealift Command. As a US Naval Ship, ARCTIC does no longer carry the weapons systems she previously (as "USS ARCTIC") was equipped with. One of these systems was the Phalanx CIWS.

General Characteristics:Awarded: December 6, 1989
Keel laid: December 2, 1991
Launched: October 30, 1993
Commissioned: September 11, 1995
Decommissioned: June 14, 2002
MSC "in service": June 14, 2002
Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding Company San Diego, California
Propulsion System: four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines
Propellers: two
Length: 754,6 feet (230 meters)
Beam: 107 feet (32.6 meters)
Draft: 39 feet (11.9 meters)
Displacement: approx. 48,800 tons
Speed: 26 knots
Aircraft: two MH-60S
Armament: none
Homeport: Earle, N.J.
Crew: 176 civilians, 59 military


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Crew List:

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

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Notes of Interest:


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About the Name "ARCTIC":

USNS ARCTIC is named for the region north of the Arctic Circle (66 50' North Latitude). The arctic region derives its name from the Greek word "arktos" or "bear". Celestial "bears" appear frequently in the northern sky; the constellations Ursa Major (larger bear) and Ursa Minor (minor bear), and the navigational star Arcturus (the bear’s guard).


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Some Details (as USS ARCTIC AOE 8):



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The photos below were taken by me and show the ARCTIC at the Naval Fuel Depot at Norfolk, Va., on October 27, 2010. The last photo was taken two days later and shows the ARCTIC at Naval Base Norfolk.



The photos below were taken by Steven Collingwood and show the ARCTIC returning to Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on December 15, 2015.


        



The photos below were taken by Steven Collingwood and show the ARCTIC passing Fort Monroe after departure from Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on January 20, 2016.


        



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the ARCTIC at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on April 13, 2016.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the ARCTIC at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on September 21, 2018.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the ARCTIC at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on December 26, 2021.



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