US Navy welcomes John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Lucy Stone

December 17, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209) was delivered to the US Navy on December 16, 2025.

The delivery marks the official transfer of the ship from shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO to the Navy. It follows the successful completion of sea trials to test the readiness and capability of the ship and to validate requirements.

“The delivery of USNS Lucy Stone will provide our fleet with another oiler, enhancing our replenishment underway and direct fueling capabilities,” said John Lighthammer, program manager, auxiliary and special mission shipbuilding.

“This is a significant milestone as we bring our civilian mariners an additional ship equipped with the tools to support at sea operations.”

To remind, the keel for USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209), the navy’s fifth John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, was laid in August 2023.

Keel laid for US Navy’s 5th John Lewis-class oiler

Vessels

Designed to transfer fuel to US Navy carrier strike group ships while underway, the 226-meter-long oilers have a full-load displacement of about 49,850 tonnes. They can carry approximately 25,000 cubic meters of fuel (equivalent to 157,000 barrels), along with a substantial dry cargo load, feature aviation facilities, and are capable of speeds of up to 37 km/h (20 knots).

The units feature substantial volume for oil, a significant dry cargo capacity and aviation capability. The vessels have double hulls to protect against oil spills and strengthened cargo and ballast tanks.

John Lewis-class ships are operated by the Military Sealift Command and feature substantial volume for oil, dry cargo capacity, and aviation operations. T-AOs provide additional capacity to the navy’s Combat Logistics Force and support fuel delivery.

General Dynamics NASSCO is also in production on the following T-AOs: USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), and Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213).

The future USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO 214), Joshua L. Goldberg (T-AO 215), and Thomas D. Parham Jr. (T-AO 216) are under contract.