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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

T-AK-288 / T-AKR-288 Bellatrix

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Lima - Lima
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Algol Class Fast Sealift Ship (Roll-on/Roll-off Vehicle Cargo Ship):
  • Laid down as SS Sea-Land Trade at Rheinstahal Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany (date unknown)
  • Launched, 1 February 1973
  • Delivered to Sea-Land Steamship Co., 1 April 1973
  • Acquired by the US Navy in 1981
  • Assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC)
  • Placed in service as Cargo Ship USNS Bellatrix (T-AK-288), date unknown
  • Redesignated Roll-on/Roll-off Vehicle Cargo Ship (T-AKR-288), September 1982
  • Bellatrix (T-AKR-288) was one the eight Fast Sealift Ships in the Surge Force, assigned to MSC Atlantic
  • Bellatrix returned to MARAD custody in 5-day RRF status, 1 October 2007
    Specifications:
    Displacement 29,692 t.(lt) 61,987 t.(fl)
    Length 947'
    Beam 106'
    Draft 37'
    Speed 33 kts.
    Complement 43 civilian mariners
    Armament none
    Propulsion 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875 psi (61.6kg/cm2); 950°F (510°C); 2 GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000 hp, two propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Commercial Service
    Bellatrix 77k SS Sea-Land Trade berthed at Yokohama, Japan in November 1980. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    USNS Bellatrix (T-AKR-288)
    Bellatrix 45k Bellatrix (T-AKR-288) berthed at New Orleans, LA. in October 1984. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Bellatrix 233k Bellatrix (T-AKR-288) in New York Harbor, date unknown. MSC web site
    Bellatrix 66k Bellatrix (T-AKR-288) at anchor in the Bay of Gibraltar 29 September 1995 Photo by Daniel Ferro
    Bellatrix 69k Bellatrix (T-AKR-288) underway, date and place unknown. Photo by Peter Westdijk the Netherlands
    There is no DANFS history available for Bellatrix (T-AKR-288) at Navsource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Not Applicable to this ship
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    US Navy Fact File - Fast Sealift Ships - T-AKR
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index Back To The Vehicle Cargo Ship / Roll-on/Roll-off Ship (AKR) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 12 October 2007