Name USNS Spica Out of service 26 January 2008 Launched 1 February 1967 Displacement 9.258 million kg Builder Wallsend | Laid down 1 April 1965 Construction started 1 April 1965 Weight 10,370 tons Tons burthen 15.13 million kg | |
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Ordered For the Royal Navy as RFA Tarbatness (A-345) Acquired Purchased by the U.S. Navy, 1 November 1981 In service 1 November 1981, as USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) | ||
USNS Spica (T-AFS-9), was a combat stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy from the United Kingdom in 1981. She served as part of the Military Sealift Command until she was deactivated in 2008.
Contents
- Built in England
- Purchased by the US Navy
- Mission
- Operational history
- Honors and awards
- Disposal
- Note
- References
Before her U.S. Navy career, Spica served the United Kingdom's Royal Fleet Auxiliary as RFA Tarbatness (A345).
Built in England
RFA Tarbatness (A345) was built at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend-On-Tyne, England, for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was laid down on 1 April 1965 and was launched on 1 February 1967.
Purchased by the U.S. Navy
Spica was purchased by the U.S. Navy and placed into non-commissioned service as a combat stores ship on 1 November 1981 as the USNS Spica (T-AFS-9), a unit of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Naval Auxiliary Force Atlantic.
Mission
Spica’s mission was to provide underway replenishment in support of naval forces by providing refrigerated supplies, dry supplies, spare parts, general supplies, fleet freight, mail, and replacement personnel by alongside or by vertical replenishment processes.
Operational history
There is no current operational history on Spica.
Honors and awards
Spica was authorized the following awards:
Disposal
Spica was inactivated on 26 January 2008 and turned over to the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for disposal. She was sunk as a target on 6 May 2009.
Note
There is no journal entry on Spica (T-AFS-9) at DANFS.