Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
Watson Class Vehicle Cargo Ship- (LMSR) Medium-speed Roll-on/Roll-off ship:
  • Laid down, 24 August 1999, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.
  • Launched, 28 July 2000
  • Delivered to the US Navy, 2 March 2001
  • Assigned to the Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC) and placed in service as USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315)
  • USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) is one of the Navy's 19 LMSRs, and is assigned to Afloat Prepositioning Ship Squadron Four
    Specifications:
    Displacement 29,000 t.(lt) 62,644 t.(fl)
    Length 950'
    Beam 106'
    Draft 34' (max)
    Speed 24 kts.
    Cargo Capacity 300,00 sq. ft. plus 49,991 sq. ft. deck cargo
    Complement 30 Civilian Mariners
    Armament none
    Propulsion gas turbines, two propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Watkins 93k USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 MSC web site
    Watkins 68k USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) underway, date and location unknown. Photo by Peter Westdijk
    Watkins 68k USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) underway, date and location unknown. Photo by Peter Westdijk
    Watkins 68k USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) departing Antwerp, Belgium, August 2004. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Watkins 284k USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) transfers cargo to the MSC-chartered ship MV Mighty Servant I from which cargo is then loaded onto hovercraft for delivery to shore during a demonstration of the concept of sea basing. Sea bases will allow the military to deploy U.S. forces and their cargo from the sea instead of pierside.
    MSC photo.    		 Bill Gonyo
    There is no DANFS history available for USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) at NavSource
    Medal of Honor Citation for MSGT Travis E. Watkins United States Army,
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Not Applicable to this ship
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Navy Fact File - Large, Medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off Ships - T-AKR
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Vehicle Cargo Ship / Roll-on/Roll-off Ship (AKR) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 1 February 2008