The Navy christened the USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE-13) over the weekend, with the latest combat logistics support ship of the Lewis and Clark-class set for delivery to the fleet in spring of next year, Military Sealift Command (MSC) said yesterday.
The ceremony took place at General Dynamics’ [GD] NASSCO shipyard in San Diego and was christened by Myrlie Evers-Williams. Medgar Evers was a black civil rights activist and member of the NAACP who was gunned down outside his Mississippi home by a white supremacist in 1963.
The 689-foot dry cargo/ammunition ship was launched Oct. 29.
“This technological marvel will carry the strong name of Medgar Evers, as well as the amazing spirit and expertise of the American people, across oceans and seas to every corner of the world,” Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, MSC commander, said at the ceremony.
The Medgar Evers is the 13th of the planned 14 ships to be built in the class and will operate in the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force and Maritime Prepositioning Force.