View source for Fast combat support ship

{{short description|Combat logistics ship}}
[[File:US Navy 041221-N-1229B-029 The Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7) shown underway in the Western Pacific Ocean.jpg|thumb|The fast combat support ship USNS ''Rainier'' (T-AOE-7), underway in the Western Pacific, circa 2004]]

The '''fast combat support ship''' ([[US Navy hull classification symbol]]: '''AOE''') is a type of [[Auxiliary_ship#Replenishment|replenishment auxiliary ship]]. Different from traditional logistic ships, the fast combat support ship is designed with high speed to keep up with the [[carrier battle group]]/[[carrier strike group]], while the multi-product station is capable of supplying all types of necessities for the fleet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2174658/fast-combat-support-ships-t-aoe/ |title=Fast Combat Support Ships T-AOE |date=29 September 2021 |website=US Navy }}</ref>

==History==
===US Navy===
The fast combat support ship is designed to perform the functions of three old logistic ship types in one hull - fleet oiler (AO), ammunition ship (AE), and refrigerated stores ship (AF). Aside from supplying ships, fast combat support ships need the speed, weapons, sensors, and communications equipment, to serve as an integrated component of the carrier strike battle group. The concept of fast combat support ship was envisioned by [[United States Navy]] admiral [[Arleigh Burke]], who laid out the concept as the solution to logistics problems he encountered in World War II.<ref name="fas1">{{cite web|url=https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/ship/aoe-1.htm |title=AOE-1 Sacramento Fast Combat Support Ship |website=Federation Of American Scientists }}</ref>

The first class of the fast combat support ship was the {{sclass|Sacramento|fast combat support ship|0}}, built with multi-product supply stations, the largest fuel capacity, and the largest ammunition capacity in the US Navy at the time. The four ships of the ''Sacramento''-class were 53,000 tons at full load, 796 feet overall length, and carried two [[Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight]] helicopters. The ''Sacramento''-class was retired in 2005.<ref name="fas1" />

After replacing the ''Sacramento''-class, the {{sclass|Supply|fast combat support ship|0}} became the largest [[auxiliary ship|combat logistics ship]] in the United States. They can carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil, 2,150 tons of ammunition, 500 tons of dry stores, and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. They receive petroleum products, ammunition, and stores from various shuttle ships and redistributes these items when needed to ships in the [[carrier strike group]]. This greatly reduces the number of service ships needed to travel with carrier strike groups. The ships of the class displaced 48,800 tons full load and carried two [[Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight]] or two Sikorsky [[MH-60S Knighthawk]] helicopters.<ref name="fas2">{{cite web|url=https://man.fas.org/dod-101/sys/ship/aoe-6.htm |title=AOE 6 Supply |website=Federation Of American Scientists }}</ref>

Air defense includes the [[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow]] radar and infrared [[surface-to-air missile]] in eight-cell launchers to provide point defense with 15km to 25km range. There are also two 20mm [[Phalanx CIWS]] (close-in weapon systems) and two [[Mark 38 25 mm machine gun system|Mk38 25mm cannons]]. All ''Supply''-class combat support ships were [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] until 2001, and then were transferred to [[Military Sealift Command]].<ref name="fas2" />

A program to replace the ''Supply''-class ships, the" T-AOE(X) station-ship replacement project", was cancelled in 2005 by US Defense Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2010/october/running-empty|title=Running On Empty|website=usni.org|date=1 October 2010|access-date=2 March 2023}}</ref>

As of early 2023, USNS ''Rainier'' and USNS ''Bridge'' have been taken out of service and struck. Along with the remaining two ''Supply''-class ships, US Navy fleets are currently supplied by {{sclass|Lewis and Clark|dry cargo ship}}s as well as {{sclass|Henry J. Kaiser|replenishment oiler|0}} and {{sclass|John Lewis|replenishment oiler}}s.

===PLA Navy===
In the 21st century, [[China]] also developed the [[Type 901 fast combat support ship]], which serves a similar mission in their navy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2022/12/19/chinese-liaoning-carrier-strike-group-now-operating-in-the-philippine-sea |title=Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Now Operating in the Philippine Sea |website=USNI News |date=19 December 2022 }}</ref>

== List of fast combat support ships ==
=== United States ===
* {{sclass|Sacramento|fast combat support ship}}
** {{USS|Sacramento|AOE-1}}
** {{USS|Camden|AOE-2}}
** {{USS|Seattle|AOE-3}}
** {{USS|Detroit|AOE-4}}
* {{sclass|Supply|fast combat support ship}}
** {{USNS|Supply|T-AOE-6}}
** {{USNS|Rainier|T-AOE-7}}
** {{USNS|Arctic|T-AOE-8}}
** {{USNS|Bridge|T-AOE-10}}

=== China ===
[[File:PLANS Hulun Lake (AOE-965) 20190801.jpg|thumb|PLA Navy ''Hulunhu'' (965) in the [[Pacific Ocean]]]]
* [[Type 901 fast combat support ship]] (NATO reporting name: Fuyu-class)
** [[Chinese ship Hulunhu|PLAN Hulunhu (901)]]
** [[Chinese ship Chaganhu|PLAN Chaganhu (905)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/aoe6/ AOE class at Naval Technology]
*[http://www.msc.navy.mil/factsheet/t-aoe.asp AOE class at US Navy Military Sealift Command] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051119173006/http://www.msc.navy.mil/factsheet/t-aoe.asp |date=2005-11-19 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041016014447/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/s_AOE.htm AOE class at US Naval Vessel Register]
*[http://www.msc.navy.mil/ US Navy Military Sealift Command front page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210032557/http://www.msc.navy.mil/ |date=2007-02-10 }}
*[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/aoe-1.htm Extensive description and photos of AOE-1 Sacramento at Military Analysis Network (unofficial)]

==See also==
* [[List of Military Sealift Command ships]]

{{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fast Combat Support Ship}}
[[Category:Ship types]]
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the United States Navy]]