USNS Sea Lift (T-LSV-9)

The USNS "Sea Lift" (T-LSV-9) is a vehicle landing ship built for the United States Navy. The lone ship of her class, she is the first U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name (a term referring to the transportation of cargo and passengers by sea).

Originally laid down as SS "Sea Lift", a Maritime Administration type (C4-ST-67a) hull under Maritime Administration contract (MA hull 124), on 18 May 1964 by the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington; launched on 17 April 1965; sponsored by Mrs. Warren G. Magnuson; completed on 25 April 1967; delivered to the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service (now the Military Sealift Command) and placed in service as USNS "Sea Lift" (T-LSV-9), a roll-on / roll-off cargo ship, on 19 May 1967 with Captain Robert C. Lindquist, Master. Manned by a civil service crew, "Sea Lift" completed her maiden voyage, Oakland to Honolulu, in July; then commenced runs to the Far East with cargo consigned to Vietnam. Since then, "Sea Lift" (redesignated vehicle cargo ship "AKR-9" on 14 August 1969) continued her primary mission, the transportation of military vehicles, for the Military Sealift Command in the Pacific.

Renamed USNS "Meteor" (T-AKR-9) 12 September 1975 (making her the third U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name), she was assigned to the Rapid Deployment Force in April, 1980. Reassigned to the Ready Reserve Force (RRF) 30 October 1985, "Meteor" was one of 31 roll-on / roll-off ships and one of the 55 ships in the RRF in the Sealift Office Program. When not activated "Meteor" was laid up at a "layberth" at Oakland, California in 10-day fully-ready status (ROS-10). Removed from MSC control and withdrawn from the RRF by reassignment to the National Defense Reserve Fleet 28 July 2006, her final fate is unknown.

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