- USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE-6)
USNS "Amelia Earhart" (T-AKE-6), a "Lewis and Clark"-class
dry cargo ship is the only ship of theUnited States Navy to be named for noted Americanaviation pioneer and women's rights advocateAmelia Earhart (1897–1937). The contract to build the ship was awarded toNational Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) ofSan Diego, California , on27 January 2004 . Her keel was laid down at the end of May, 2007 at General Dynamics' NASSCO shipyard. In early 2007, Dr. Alex Mandel, PhD. along with members of theAmelia Earhart Society (AES) andAmelia Earhart Research Association (AERA) successfully petitioned the naming of the ship.On
July 26 ,2007 one of the ship's four 200-ton diesel-electric engines toppled from a truck delivering it to the shipyard in the 2700 block of Harbor Drive, San Diego. [cite news | title = 200-Ton Engine Crushes Van With Woman Inside | publisher = 10news.com | date =2007-06-26 | url = http://www.10news.com/news/13759364/detail.html | accessdate = 2008-04-09] The engine damaged three vehicles, completely flattening one. A woman sleeping in the back of a van whose front-end was destroyed suffered minor injuries. The accident also created an eight foot deep sink-hole in the roadway and ruptured a water main. The accident is believed to have been caused when the truck accidentally delivered the engine to the wrong gate of the shipyard and hit the curb while backing up in an attempt to turn around. [cite news | author = Greg Gross | title = That 200-ton engine shipped to wrong address | publisher = signonsandiego.com | date =2007-06-30 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070730-1056-bn30engine.html | accessdate = 2008-04-09] The engine was recovered onJuly 29th by three heavy cranes. [cite news | author = Kristina Davis and Terry Rodgers | title = 200-ton ship engine hauled away | publisher = signonsandiego.com | date =2007-06-30 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070730-9999-1m30engine.html | accessdate = 2008-04-09]At 9 p.m.
April 6 ,2008 , a ceremony was held to christen the "Amelia Earhart" with the honors of breaking the traditional bottle of champagne given to Amelia Earhart's niece, Amy Kleppner. [cite news | title = USNS Amelia Earhart to be christened by famed pilot's niece | publisher = signonsandiego.com | date =2008-04-05 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080405-2145-bn05earhart.html | accessdate = 2008-04-09] The new ship is designed to deliver ammunition, food, fuel and other dry cargo to US and allied warships at sea. It will be crewed by 124 civil service mariners and can carry two helicopters.References
*NVR
External links
*cite web
url= http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AKE6.htm
title= USNS "Amelia Earhart" (T-AKE 6)
date=7 April 2008 | work=Naval Vessel Register | publisher=United States Navy
accessdate= 2008-05-13
*cite web
url= http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/75/7506.htm
title= T-AKE-6 "Amelia Earhart"
last= Priolo |first= Gary P. | date= 2 May 2008
work= Service Ship Photo Archive | publisher= NavSource Online
accessdate= 2008-05-13
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