USNS ''LCPL Roy M. Wheat'' (T-AK-3016), the only ship of its

class Class or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used differentl ...

, is a

cargo ship A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. Cargo ships are usu ...

built in 1987. She became one of the only

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

ships to enter United States service. The ship is named after

Lance Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer (NCO), usually equi ...

Roy M. Wheat, an American

Marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

who was awarded the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

during

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

Construction and commissioning

The ship was built in 1987 at the Chernomorski Shipyard, Nikolaiev,

Mykolaiv Oblast Mykolaiv Oblast ( uk, Микола́ївська о́бласть, translit=Mykoláyivsʹka óblastʹ, ), also referred to as Mykolaivshchyna ( uk, Микола́ївщина, Mykoláivshchyna, ) is an oblast (province) of Ukraine. The administra ...

. She was put into the service of

Black Sea Shipping Company Black Sea Shipping Company (russian: Черноморское морское пароходство, uk, Чорноморське морське пароплавство) is a Ukrainian shipping company based in Kyiv. The company was established ...

. In 1997, the ship was purchased by the

Military Sealift Command Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all US m ...

and following conversion was placed in

Prepositioning Program Strategic sealift ships are part of the United States Military Sealift Command's (MSC) prepositioning program. There are currently 17 ships in the program, strategically positioned around the world to support the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp ...

and the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 on 7 October 2003. The conversion process included a 118 ft midbody hull extension, the installation of two cargo cranes, installation of fore and aft garages, strengthening and increasing the length of the stern ramp, a stern helicopter deck, conversion of the electrical system from 50 hz to 60 hz, the replacement of the ship's generator and electrical switching gear replacement, new Vosper-Thornycroft machinery control systems, new and larger accommodations, and climate control systems for the cargo holds. The Navy awarded the contract in the amount of $150 million to Ocean Marine Navigation Company. On 1 August 2002, ''Roy W. Wheat'' was moored at Norfolk Shipbuilding and Corporation Shipyard,

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

. Sailors from the ship set up the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) causeway ferries, off

Liberia Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...

on 21 March 2008. From 1 October 2012, ''Roy M. Wheat'' alongside ships of the Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 would be transferred to the Military Sealift Command Surge Sealift due to the disestablishing of the squadron on 28 September. Crowley Government Services Inc. was awarded $14,513,105 to maintain USNS Sgt. Matej Kocak (T-AK-3005), USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon (T-AK-3006), USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK-3007) and ''LCPL Roy. M. Wheat'' on 29 September 2020.

Awards

National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It is awarded to every member of the US Armed Forces who has served during any one of four sp ...

Gallery

File:USNS Roy M. Wheat in Drydock 3 Boston.agr.jpg, ''LCPL Roy M. Wheat'' in Drydock 3,

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

on 20 August 2015 File:Military Sealift Command distinctive stack color bands.jpg, ''LCPL Roy M. Wheat'''s funnel with color bands File:Roy m. wheat.jpg, Aft view of ''LCPL Roy M. Wheat''

End of Service

LCPL Roy M. Wheat left service and was struck December 30, 2021. As of January 31, 2022, the vessel was assigned to the

James River Reserve Fleet The James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF) is located on the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia at () near Fort Eustis. James River Reserve Fleet, a "ghost fleet,", is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The Reserve Fleet ships in s ...

at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, and was slated for disposal.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:LCPL Roy M. Wheat LCPL Roy M. Wheat-class cargo ship 1987 ships Ships built at the Black Sea Shipyard Merchant ships of the United States Cargo ships of the United States Navy Container ships of the United States Navy