NASSCO: Construction starts on US Navy’s tenth John Lewis-class fleet oiler

General Dynamics NASSCO (GD NASSCO) has begun construction of the future USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO 214), marking a key milestone in the US Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.

A steel-cutting ceremony was held on January 28, 2026 at the company’s yard. The ship is named in honor of Dolores Huerta, one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a prominent leader of the Chicano civil rights movement. Her legacy of advocacy and social justice aligns with the program’s tradition of naming vessels after notable American civil rights leaders.

The company said the moment not only signaled the formal start of the ship’s construction, but also underscored the central role of NASSCO’s shipbuilders in delivering major program milestones.

The class and its lead ship are named in honor of the late civil rights icon Representative John Lewis of Georgia.

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. 

Last month, the US Navy took delivery of John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209).

Meanwhile, in November 2025, GD NASSCO confirmed a contract to build another two John Lewis-class oilers (T-AO 215 and T-AO 216) for the US Navy. The ships are part of NASSCO’s current multi-ship contract from the US Navy for the construction of up to eight additional John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 214 through 221).