Ready Reserve Force Ships
The Ready Reserve Force (RRF) is the Maritime Administration program which provides sealift of supplies for the U.S. military throughout the world. The RRF supplements the Maritime Prepositioning Program which has strategically located ships pre-loaded with Army or Marine Corps equipment.
The former commercial vessels of RRF sit empty while they await call-up. Under the program, the ships must be ready for loading and sailing within 4, 5, 10, or 20 days. Those assigned 4 and 5 day readiness have a permanent skeleton crew of 9 or 10 mariners. Private shipping companies under contract to MARAD provide maintenance, activation, manning, and vessel operation.
The Department of Defense periodically tests readiness of the RRF by initiating no-notice activations, and by routine activations for military cargo operations and exercises. RRF ships are also used for cargo handling training by Navy and Army Reserve units. When activated, control of the RRF ships transfers from the the Maritime Administration to the Military Sealift Command, a part of the Navy.
List of Ready Reserve Force Ships
*activated for Prepositioning Program
**dedicated to Prepositioning for US Marine Corps
Ship | Type | Designation |
(feet) |
(feet) |
(feet) |
(tons) |
(knots) |
or Location |
|
MV | Alatna | Gasoline Tanker | T-AOT 81 | 287 |
61 |
22.5 |
7,300 |
10.4 |
|
SS | Beaver State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 10 | 669 |
76 |
31.5 |
11,720 |
20.4 |
|
GTS | Adm Wm. M. Callaghan | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 1001 | 694 |
92 |
29 |
26,537 |
21.3 |
|
MV | Cape Decision | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5054 | 681 |
97 |
32 |
34,790 |
16.2 |
|
MV | Cape Diamond | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5055 | 681 |
97 |
32 |
34,790 |
16.2 |
|
MV | Cape Domingo | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5053 | 681 |
97 |
32 |
34,790 |
16.2 |
|
MV | Cape Douglas | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5052 | 681 |
97 |
32 |
34,790 |
16.2 |
|
MV | Cape Ducato | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5051 | 681 |
97 |
32 |
34,790 |
16.2 |
|
MV | Cape Edmont | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5069 | 652 |
94 |
31 |
32,543 |
15.7 |
|
SS | Cape Farewell | Lighter Aboard Ship | T-AK 5073 | 893 |
100 |
38 |
32,543 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Fear | Lighter Aboard Ship | T-AK 5061 | 820 |
100 |
35 |
44,250 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Flattery | Lighter Aboard Ship | T-AK 5070 | 893 |
100 |
38 |
57,082 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Florida | Lighter Aboard Ship | T-AK 5071 | 893 |
100 |
44 |
44.606 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Gibson* | Modular Cargo Delivery System | T-AK 5051 | 605 |
82 |
35 |
31,995 |
17.9 |
|
SS | Cape Girardeau | Modular Cargo Delivery System | T-AK 2039 | 605 |
82 |
35 |
31,995 |
17.9 |
|
MV | Cape Henry | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5067 | 749 |
105 |
35 |
51,007 |
17.4 |
|
MV | Cape Horn | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5068 | 749 |
105 |
35 |
51,007 |
17.4 |
|
MV | Cape Hudson | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5066 | 749 |
105 |
35 |
51,007 |
17.4 |
|
SS | Cape Inscription | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5076 | 684 |
102 |
32 |
33,900 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Intrepid | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 11 | 685 |
102 |
34 |
33,900 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Isabel | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5062 | 684 |
102 |
32 |
36.355 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Island | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 10 | 685 |
102 |
34 |
33,900 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Cape Jacob* | Modular Cargo Delivery System | T-AK 5029 | 565 |
76 |
31 |
22,929 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Cape John* | Modular Cargo Delivery System | T-AK 5022 | 565 |
76 |
31.5 |
22,929 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Cape Johnson* | Modular Cargo Delivery System | T-AK 5075 | 565 |
76 |
31 |
22,629 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Cape Juby | Modular Cargo Delivery System | T-AK 5077 | 565 |
76 |
31 |
22,629 |
17.0 |
|
MV | Cape Kennedy | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5083 | 695 |
105 |
35 |
29.218 |
16.6 |
|
MV | Cape Knox | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5082 | 695 |
105 |
35 |
29.218 |
16.6 |
|
MV | Cape Lambert | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5077 | 682 |
75 |
30 |
30,359 |
16.2 |
|
MV | Cape Lobos | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5078 | 682 |
75 |
30 |
30,359 |
16.2 |
|
SS | Cape May | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5063 | 873 |
105 |
39 |
57,290 |
16.2 |
|
SS | Cape Mendocino | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 5064 | 873 |
105 |
39 |
57,290 |
16.2 |
|
SS | Cape Mohican | Heavy Lift Ship | T-AKR 5065 | 873 |
105 |
39 |
57,290 |
16.2 |
|
SS | Cape Nome | Ready Reserve Force Ship | T-AK 1014 | 602 |
90 |
34 |
27,580 |
18.7 |
|
MV | Cape Orlando | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 2044 | 635 |
91 |
30 |
32,799 |
16.2 |
|
MV | Cape Race | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9960 | 647 |
105 |
32 |
32,054 |
16.6 |
|
MV | Cape Ray | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9679 | 647 |
105 |
32 |
32,054 |
16.6 |
|
MV | Cape Rise | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9678 | 647 |
105 |
32 |
32,054 |
16.6 |
|
MV | Cape Taylor | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 113 | 634 |
88.5 |
28 |
24,551 |
15.7 |
|
MV | Cape Texas | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 112 | 634 |
88.5 |
28 |
24,551 |
15.7 |
|
MV | Cape Trinity | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9711 | 634 |
88.5 |
28 |
24,551 |
15.7 |
|
MV | Cape Victory | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9701 | 631 |
87 |
28 |
28,215 |
14.0 |
|
MV | Cape Vincent | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9666 | 632 |
87 |
28 |
28,215 |
14.0 |
|
MV | Cape Washington | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9961 | 697 |
106 |
38 |
53,652 |
14.9 |
|
MV | Cape Wrath | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9962 | 697 |
106 |
38 |
53,652 |
14.9 |
|
MV | Chattahoochee | Gasoline Tanker | T-AOG 82 | 287 |
61 |
22.5 |
7,300 |
10.4 |
|
SS | Chesapeake* | Tanker | T-AOT 5084 | 736 |
102 |
39 |
14,977 |
14.0 |
|
SS | Comet | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 7 | 467 |
78 |
27 |
18.286 |
15.3 |
|
SS | Cornhusker State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 6 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Curtiss** | Aviation Maintenance Logistics | T-AVB 4 | 602 |
90 |
33 |
23,800 |
18.7 |
|
SS | Diamond State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 7 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.9 |
|
SS | Empire State | Troopship - SUNY training ship | T-AP 1001 | 565 |
76 |
32 |
22,629 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Equality State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 8 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.9 |
|
SS | Flickertail State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 5 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Gem State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 2 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Golden Bear | Troopship - Cal Maritime training ship |
|
499 |
72 |
25 |
15,000 |
20.0 |
|
SS | Gopher State* | Crane Ship | T-ACS 4 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Grand Canyon State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 3 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Green Mountain State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 9 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
20.4 |
|
SS | Keystone State | Crane Ship | T-ACS 2 | 668.5 |
76 |
33.5 |
31,500 |
17.0 |
|
SS | Meteor | Roll-on/Roll-off Ship | T-AKR 9 | 540 |
83 |
29 |
21,480 |
17.9 |
|
SS | Mission Buenaventura | Tanker | T-AOT 1012 | 660 |
90 |
38 |
45,243 |
14.0 |
|
MV | Mission Capistrano | Tanker | T-AOT 5005 | 672 |
89 |
36 |
45,877 |
14.0 |
|
SS | Mount Washington | Tanker | T-AOT 5076 | 736 |
102 |
40 |
65,800 |
15.3 |
|
MV | Nodaway | Gasoline Tanker | T-AOG 78 | 325 |
48 |
19 |
5,984 |
8.5 |
|
SS | Petersburg* | Tanker | T-AOT 9101 | 736 |
102 |
36 |
48,993 |
14.5 |
|
SS | Potomac | Tanker | T-AOT 181 | 614.5 |
83.5 |
34 |
35,330 |
15.7 |
|
SS | Wright** | Aviation Maintenance Logistics | T-AVB 3 | 602 |
90 |
30 |
23,800 |
18.7 |
|
SS Cape Farewell - Lighter Aboard Ship
SS Cape Fear -- Lighter Aboard Ship - showing lifting of "lighter"
SS Cape Juby - Modular Cargo Delivery System
SS Equality State - Crane Ship
SS Cape Henry - Roll-on/Roll-off |
SS Cape Horn - Roll-on/Roll-off |
SS Mount Washington -Tanker
SS Mission Capistrano Tanker
SS Empire State - Troopship - Training ship at Maritime Academy State University of New York
Past Activations of RRF ShipsIn 1998, four RRF ships were activated to carry military construction equipment and supplies to Central America following the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch.
RRF ships were called into action in 1995 and 1996 to support United Nations and NATO actions in Bosnia.
RRF ships were activated in 1994 to support camps at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.
In 1992, several RRF ships operated in support of humanitarian efforts in Somalia.
79 RRF ships, or about 75 percent of the RRF, were activated in support of the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s.
Admiral Callaghan
Cape Decision
Cape Diamond
Cape Domingo
Cape Douglas
Cape Ducato
Cape Edmont
Cape Gibson
Cape Henry
Cape Horn
Cape Hudson
Cape Inscription
Cape Intrepid
Cape Isabel
Cape Island
Cape Jacob
Cape John
Cape Johnson
Cape Kennedy
Cape Knox
Cape Lambert
Cape Lobos
Cape Orlando
Cornhusker State
Cape Race
Cape Ray
Cape Rise
Cape Taylor
Cape Texas
Cape Trinity
Cape Victory
Cape Vincent
Cape Washington
Cape Wrath
Chesapeake
Comet
Curtiss
Gopher State
Petersburg
Wright
Sources:
Official Inventory of US Naval ships and Service Craft http://www.nvr.navy.mil
Inventory of Military Sealift Command ships http://www.msc.navy.mil
Military Sealift Command Fact sheet http://www.msc.navy.mil/factsheet/rrf.htm
US Transportation Command http://public.transcom.mil/missions/rrf.html
Marad Press Release http://www.marad.dot.gov/Offices/Ship/PRESS-GM2.htm
Maritime College State University of New York http://www.sunymaritime.edu05/15/03