NASSCO begins construction of US Navy’s 11th John Lewis-class oiler

July 9, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

General Dynamics NASSCO has marked the start of construction of the future USNS Joshua L. Goldberg (T-AO 211), the 11th ship in the US Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.

The company carried out a ceremonial first cut of steel at its San Diego shipyard. The milestone officially begins fabrication of the vessel, which will join a new class of replenishment ships designed to strengthen the navy’s ability to sustain maritime operations by providing fuel, supplies, and logistical support to ships deployed at sea.

The first cut of steel ceremony was carried out by Arnold Patterson, a longtime NASSCO employee and Production Supervisor in the company’s Blast & Paint Department.

The ship will be named in honor of Joshua L. Goldberg, who was born in Belarus during the Russian Empire era and later became the first rabbi commissioned as a U.S. Navy chaplain.

The future USNS Joshua L. Goldberg is part of the John Lewis-class fleet oiler program, which is replacing the Navy’s aging Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers. General Dynamics NASSCO of San Diego, California, serves as the lead contractor for the construction of the class.

Like its John Lewis-class sister ships, the vessel will measure 227 meters in length, with a beam of 32.4 meters and a maximum draught of 10.2 meters. The ship will have a full-load displacement of approximately 22,515 tonnes and a crew complement of 125 personnel, including 99 civilian mariners.

Propulsion will be provided by two Fairbanks-Morse/MAN 12V48/60CR four-stroke diesel engines driving conventional propellers. The propulsion system will allow the ship to reach speeds of up to 20 knots and achieve a range of more than 6,140 nautical miles.

Operated by the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), the John Lewis-class oilers are designed to conduct replenishment missions underway, transferring fuel and supplies to naval vessels operating far from port. The ships will carry up to 157,000 barrels of oil, including diesel fuel and lubricating oil, as well as aviation fuel for carrier and other aircraft operations.

In addition to liquid cargo, the vessels will provide fresh and frozen provisions, stores, and potable water to deployed US Navy ships. They will also feature significant dry cargo capacity and aviation facilities, including a helicopter deck to support logistics operations.