USAV Major General Robert Smalls (LSV-8) is a General Frank S. Besson Jr.-class roll-on/roll-off of the US Army.
 USAV Major General Robert Smalls and USAV Major General Charles P. Gross on 9 November 2012
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Major General Robert Smalls |
| Namesake | Robert Smalls |
| Operator |  United States Army |
| Builder | VT Halter Marine, Pascagoula |
| Acquired | 21 June 2006 |
| Commissioned | 15 September 2007 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | General Frank S. Besson class roll-on/roll-off |
| Displacement | 4,199 long tons (4,266 t) |
| Length | 273 ft (83 m) |
| Beam | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × EMD 16-645E2; 1,950 hp (1,454 kW) each at 999 rpm |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Complement | 8 officers, 23 enlisted |
Design
editNamed in honor of Gen. Frank S. Besson Jr., former Chief of Transportation, U.S. Army, these ships have bow and stern ramps and the ability to beach themselves, giving them the ability to discharge 900 short tons of vehicles and cargo over the shore in as little as four feet of water, or 2,000 short tons as an intra-theater line haul roll-on/roll-off cargo ship.[1] The vessel's cargo deck is designed to handle any vehicle in the US Army inventory and can carry up to 15 M1 Abrams main battle tanks or 82 ISO standard containers.[2]
Construction and career
editShe was acquired by the US Army on 21 June 2006 and commissioned on 15 September 2007 into the 605th Transportation Detachment, 8th Theater Sustainment Command.[3]
References
edit- ^ Naval Technology – Frank S. Besson Class – LSV Logistics Support Vessel [1]
- ^ The United States Army News | New Army Vessel Arrives in Hawaii
- ^ "Army Ship Photo Index". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
External links
edit- Navsource – Photo Gallery
- Frank S Besson Class LSV Logistic Support Vessel
- LSVs at globalsecurity.org
- Photo gallery: Family tour aboard the LSV-7 Kuroda | The Honolulu Advertiser
- LSV-8 USAV MG Roberts Smalls – a set on Flickr
- Army Commissions Vessel Named after African-American Civil War Hero, S.C. Statesman