Name Leise Maersk Owner United States Navy Acquired by US Navy 1995 | Namesake Rodney J. T. Yano Completed June 1, 1980 Length 277 m | |
 | ||
Operator Military Sealift Command Builders Odense Steel Shipyard, Denmark | ||
USNS Yano (T-AKR-297) was originally constructed as the container ship Leise Maersk in 1980. In 1987 the ship was lengthened and again in the 1990s before it was purchased by the United States Navy. When the transfer was complete the ship underwent a conversion to a large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship at NASSCO.
Military Service
Yano entered service under Military Sealift Command in 1997, and was named after Medal of Honor recipient United States Army Sergeant First Class Rodney J. T. Yano. It has since served a role in basic military transport of material to bases around the world and served a vital roll in the transport of material to both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Yano is operated by Patriot Contract Services, LLC under US Navy Military Sealift Command charter, and is manned by US Merchant Marine personnel.
On February 25th 1996 in San Diego, California the ship broke her mooring lines and collided with the USS Vandegrift. The frigate suffered hull damage.