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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Isaac Lewis

USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Mike - Charlie
NWMC
Lewis and Clark Class Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship:
  • Laid down, 26 March 2010, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, CA.
  • Christened and Launched, 16 April 2011
  • Delivered and accepted by the Navy, 28 September 2011
    Specifications:
    Displacement 41,000 long tons (fl.)
    Length 689 feet
    Beam 106 feet
    Draft 29.5 feet
    Complement
    53 CivMar
    36 Military + 13 for helicopter detachment
    Landing/Attack Craft: Air Cap two VERTREP capable helicopters
    Armament none
    Cargo Capacities
    Dry Cargo 6,675 tons
    Refrigerated stores 1,716 tons
    Cargo Fuel 18,000 bbls
    Propulsion
    Main machinery - Integrated propulsion and ship service electrical system, with generation at 6.6KV by FM/MAN B&W diesel generators; one fixed pitch propeller; bow thruster.
    Speed 20 knots
    Range 14,000 nautical miles at 20 knots
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    William McLean 19k
    Namesake
    William Burdette McLean (1914–1976)
    William Burdette McLean (1914–1976) was a United States Navy physicist, who conceived and developed the heat-seeking Sidewinder missile. The Sidewinder was the first truly effective air-to-air missile; its variants and upgrades are still in active service. During World War II, McLean worked on ordnance equipment and testing at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C. Following the war, he moved to the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS), Inyokern, California (now the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake), where he led the project team developing the Sidewinder missile from 1945 to 1954. In April 1954, he was appointed technical director, the senior civilian position at the Station, a position which he held till 1967. The Memorial Award for Dr. William B. McLean was established in 1968, to recognize creativity in employees who furthered the mission at China Lake with significant inventions. In 2008, the Navy announced that the dry cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) would be named in honor of Dr. McLean.
    Bill Gonyo
    William McLean
    110416-N-DX615-078
    2362k The newly christened Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) is launched into San Diego Harbor. William McLean was christened by Margaret Taylor, the eldest niece of Dr. William McLean, the U.S. Navy physicist who conceived and developed the heat-seeking Sidewinder missile.
    US Navy photo #s 110416-N-DX615-078 SAN DIEGO (April 16, 2011) and 110416-N-DX615-047 SAN DIEGO (April 16, 2011) by MC2 Alan Gragg.
    Bill Gonyo and Lee Wahler
    William McLean
    110416-N-DX615-047
    2384k
    William McLean 375k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) under way in San Diego Bay outbound to sea for acceptance trials, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean 275k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) departs Naval Station Norfolk ahead of Hurricane Sandy, 26 October 2012. ADM. Bill Gortney, Commander U.S. Fleet Forces Command, ordered the sortie of Navy ships in the Hampton Roads, VA.
    US Navy photo # 21026-N-QY430-039 by MC1 Rafael Martie
    Robert Hurst
    William McLean 186k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) underway in the Atlantic Ocean.
    US Navy photo # 131030-N-GF386-635 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 30, 2013) by MC2 Jonathan Vargas.
    Lee Wahler
    Kearsarge 245k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) conducts an ammunition offload with the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3). The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU), are deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.
    US Navy photo # 131030-N-XJ788-167 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 30, 2013) by MCSN Travis DiPerna
    Robert M. Cieri
    William McLean 102k Panoramic view of Naval Station Norfolk, from USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) during a snowy day, Tuesday, 29 January 2014. Photo by Brandon J. Varner
    William McLean 301k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) transits the Atlantic Ocean 16 July 2014.
    US Navy photo # 140716-N-ZG705-052 by MC3 Karl Anderson.
    Robert Hurst
    William McLean 136k A Sikorsky MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (HSC-5) "Nightdippers" retrieves ammunition from USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) during an ammunition on-load with the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), 2 June 2015. Harry S. Truman was under way conducting an ordnance-handling evolution.
    US Navy photo # 150602-N-NK123-121 by MMC3 J. S. Richardson
    Robert Hurst
    William McLean 1085k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) and the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) conducting an ammunition onload. Harry S. Truman is under way conducting an ordnance-handling evolution.
    US Navy photo # by150603-N-NK123-359 ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 3, 2015) by MC3 J. S. Richardson.
    Ron Reeves
    CVN-69 Dwight D. Eisenhower 198k USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), the flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, conducts a replenishment-at-sea with USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12), 29 March 2016, in the Atlantic Ocean. Ike was underway conducting a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with her Carrier Strike Group in preparation for a future deployment.
    US Navy photo # 160329-N-QY430-501 by MC1 Rafael Martie
    Ron Reeves
    William McLean 247k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) moored at Naval Station Norfolk Pier 6 in May 2016. Photo by Brandon Varner
    William McLean 282k USS Carney (DDG-64) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) in the Mediterranean Sea. Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 6th fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.
    US Navy photo # 161020-N-ZE250-261 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Oct. 20, 2016) by MC3 Weston Jones
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean 838k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) conducts a vertical replenishment with the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1). Wasp is deployed with the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the US 6th Fleet area of operations.
    US Navy photo # 161101-N-TO519-073 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Nov. 1, 2016) by MC2 Nathan Wilkes
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean 123k Sailors assigned to aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) stand by during a practice replenishment-at-sea exercise with USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12). Gerald R. Ford is under way conducting test and evaluation operations.
    US Navy photo # 170814-N-XS424-0126 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 14, 2017) by MC3 Sean Elliott
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean 264k USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) gets under way from Naval Station Norfolk in support of federal, state and local authority's ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.
    US Navy photo # 170831-N-OH262-428 NORFOLK (Aug. 31, 2017) by Bill Mesta
    Lee Wahler
    CVN-78
    NS027861
    170814-N-OG138-0035
    366K The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) pulls alongside USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) during a practice underway replenishment in the Atlantic Ocean, 14 August 2017. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was underway conducting test and evaluation operations.
    US Navy Photos 170814-N-OG138-0035, 170814-N-OG138-0048, 170814-N-OG138-0200 and 170814-N-OG138-0233z by MC3 Mathew R. Fairchild and
    US Navy photo 170714-N-OS895-0081 by Jason Pastrick
    Via Bob Canchola, BT, USN (Ret.)
    CVN-78
    NS027861a
    170814-N-OG138-0048
    332K
    CVN-78
    NS027861b
    170814-N-OG138-0200
    341K
    CVN-78
    NS027861c
    170814-N-OG138-0233
    492K
    CVN-78
    NS027861d
    170714-N-OS895-0081
    395K
    William McLean
    171001-N-ZN152-0045 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 1, 2017)
    254k USNS Comfort (T-AH-20), center, conducts an underway replenishment with USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12), left, and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6). Comfort is under way to support humanitarian relief operations in Puerto Rico. The Department of Defense is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Maria to minimize suffering and is one component of the overall whole-of-government response effort.
    US Navy photo #"s 171001-N-ZN152-0045 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 1, 2017) and 171001-N-ZN152-0043 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 1, 2017) by MC1 Ernest R. Scott.
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean
    171001-N-ZN152-0043 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 1, 2017)
    230k
    William McLean 188k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) moves into position to conduct a replenishment-at-sea with the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51). The Department of Defense is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, in helping those affected by Hurricane Maria to minimize suffering and is one component of the overall whole-of-government response effort.
    US Navy photo # 171012-N-DQ503-015 CARIBBEAN SEA (Oct. 12, 2017) by MC3 Taylor A. Elberg
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean 237k The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) pulls alongside USNS William Mclean (T-AKE-12) during a replenishment-at-sea. Gerald R. Ford is currently under way conducting test and evaluation operations.
    US Navy photo # 171204-N-XU135-0061 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 4, 2017) by MC2 Kristopher Ruiz
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean
    180123-N-OH262-583 NORFOLK
    (Jan. 23, 2018)
    229k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) gets under way from Naval Station Norfolk. William McLean departed from Virginia to begin its deployment in support of U.S. naval and allied forces operating in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.
    US Navy photo #'s 180123-N-OH262-583 NORFOLK (Jan. 23, 2018) and 180123-N-OH262-583 NORFOLK (Jan. 23, 2018) by Bill Mesta
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean
    180123-N-OH262-608 NORFOLK
    (Jan. 23, 2018)
    303k
    William McLean 611k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) delivers supplies to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) during an underway replenishment. Iwo Jima, homeported in Mayport, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
    US Navy photo # 180225-N-QJ850-0347 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 25, 2018) by MC2 Andrew Murray
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean 202k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) under way alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) during a replenishment-at-sea in support of exercise Joint Warrior 18-1 in the Sea of Hebrides, May 2, 2018. Joint Warrior is a U.K.-led, multinational exercise that exercises interoperability and cooperation in all applicable warfare areas.
    US Navy photo # 180502-N-RG482-252SEA OF HEBRIDES (May 2, 2018) by MC1 Kyle Steckler
    Lee Wahler
    William McLean 305k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) moored pierside at the Deep Water Berth - Coaling Pier Portland, England, 13 December 2019 Photos by Brandon J. Varner
    William McLean 256k
    William McLean
    09751226
    287k USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) departs Naval Station Norfolk, 23 January 2021, in preparation for a 6th Fleet deployment.
    US Navy photo # 210123-N-AC165-0004 NORFOLK (Jan. 23, 2021) by LaShawn Sykes
    Lee Wahler

    There is no history available for USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    General Dynamics - NASSCO - Louis and Clark (T-AKE-1) Class Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship Fact Sheet
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship (AKE) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 26 March 2021