NASSCO launches, christens US Navy’s seventh fleet oiler

June 8, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

General Dynamics NASSCO has christened and launched the USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211), the seventh ship in the fleet oiler program built for the US Navy.

Fleet oilers serve as a supply lifeline for US Navy vessels carrying out missions across the globe, including in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and beyond.

Crafted for underway replenishment, the oilers transfer fuel, lubricants, fresh water, and small amounts of dry cargo as part of the navy’s combat logistics force. NASSCO designs all new vessels with double hulls to protect against oil spills and to enhance the durability of cargo and ballast tanks.

The vessels measure 227.4 meters in length, with a full-load displacement of approximately 45,223 metric tonnes. Each can carry 157,000 barrels of oil (about 24.96 million liters), along with significant dry cargo and aviation capability, and can reach a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h).

The new ship is named in honor of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, serving from 1967 to 1991. He was a prominent civil rights lawyer who argued and won the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which helped end racial segregation in public schools.

“The General Dynamics NASSCO team has been a strong partner of our forces for decades, particularly in the design and construction of our Naval auxiliary ships,” said David Bligh, Judge Advocate General of the Navy, representing the Secretary of the Navy

“There is a vital link between our defense industrial base and the effectiveness of our fighting men and women around the world.”

The first five ships in the class, USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207), USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208), and USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209), have all been delivered to the US Navy.

The USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210) recently completed successful sea trials and is set to be delivered on June 9, 2026.

US Navy christens newest fleet replenishment oiler USNS Sojourner Truth

Vessels

The USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211), USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213) and USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO 214) are currently under construction.