USNS Shughart (T-AKR-295)

USNS "Shughart" T-AKR 295 is a 'roll on roll off' non-combat United States Naval LSMR, part of a class of Navy vessels that share the designation Large, Medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships. The "Shughart" was originally owned by a commercial shipping company before purchase by the American navy, that was rechristened in honor of Medal of Honor recipient US Army Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart.

The Shughart, along with others in her class, is capable of carrying 58 tanks, 48 other track vehicles, plus more than 900 trucks and other wheeled vehicles. To manipulate the immense cargo capacity, the Shughart utilises two 110-ton cranes, a starboard ramp, and a stern ramp. [Federation of American Scientists [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/takr-295.htm article] retrieved on March 12 2007]

The Shughart was first constructed in 1980 in Denmark by Lindovaerftet, and christened the "Laura Maersk". She was lengthened in 1987 and again in the early 1990s by Hyundai. [Navysite.de [http://navysite.de/akr/akr295.htm article] retrieved on March 12 2007]

On May 7 1996 the "Laura Maersk" was delivered to Military Sealift Command and was outfitted at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company's docks in San Diego, California. [Navysite.de [http://navysite.de/akr/akr295.htm article] retrieved on March 12 2007] Operated by Bay Ship Management, the newly renovated ship was christened the "USNS Shughart" during a special ceremony honoring of the Medal of Honor recipient Randy Shughart. Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska was the ceremony's principal speaker and serving as the ship's sponsor was Mrs. Stephanie Shughart, widow of the ship's namesake. The "Shughart" remained under the charter of the US Navy Military Sealift Command and is operated by US Merchant Marines. [Navysite.de [http://navysite.de/akr/akr295.htm article] retrieved on March 12 2007]

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