USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr.
General Frank S. Besson Jr. class support vessel of the US Navy
 USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr. on 5 February 2005 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | General Frank S. Besson Jr. |
| Namesake | Frank S. Besson Jr. |
| Operator |  United States Army |
| Builder | VT Halter Marine, Pascagoula |
| Acquired | 19 September 1987 |
| Commissioned | 1988 |
| Homeport | Fort Eustis |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | General Frank S. Besson class roll-on/roll-off |
| Displacement | 4,199 long tons (4,266 t) |
| Length | 273 ft (83 m) |
| Beam | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × EMD 16-645E2; 1,950 hp (1,454 kW) each at 999 rpm |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Complement | 8 officers, 23 enlisted |
USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr. (LSV-1) is the lead ship of the General Frank S. Besson Jr.-class roll-on/roll-off of US Army.
Design
Named in honor of Gen. Frank S. Besson Jr., former Chief of Transportation, U.S. Army, these ships have bow and stern ramps and the ability to beach themselves, giving them the ability to discharge 900 short tons of vehicles and cargo over the shore in as little as four feet of water, or 2,000 short tons as an intra-theater line haul roll-on/roll-off cargo ship.[1] The vessel's cargo deck is designed to handle any vehicle in the US Army inventory and can carry up to 15 M1 Abrams main battle tanks or 82 ISO standard containers.[2]
Construction and career
She was acquired by the US Army on 19 September 1987 and commissioned in 1988 into the 335th Transportation Detachment, 7th Expeditionary Transportation Brigade. She is homeported in Fort Eustis.[3]
In 1988 she was christened by Frances Rogers “Betty” Wheeler, Besson’s third wife. [4]
She was deployed in 2024 to take part in the Gaza Maritime Corridor. [5]
Gallery
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USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr. and USCGC Dallas in Guantanamo Bay on 8 March 2010 -
USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr. on 29 May 2010 -
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References
- ^ Naval Technology – Frank S. Besson Class – LSV Logistics Support Vessel [1]
- ^ The United States Army News | New Army Vessel Arrives in Hawaii
- ^ "Army Ship Photo Index". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Frank Schaffer Besson, Jr. General, U.S. Army". www.militaryhallofhonor.com. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "AP News". Associated Press News. 10 March 2024.
External links
- Navsource – Photo Gallery
- Frank S Besson Class LSV Logistic Support Vessel
- LSVs at globalsecurity.org
- Photo gallery: Family tour aboard the LSV-7 Kuroda | The Honolulu Advertiser
- LSV-8 USAV MG Roberts Smalls – a set on Flickr
- Army Commissions Vessel Named after African-American Civil War Hero, S.C. Statesman
- Robert Smalls Official Website
- v
- t
- e
General Frank S. Besson-class support vessels
- General Frank S. Besson Jr.
- CW3 Harold C. Clinger
- General Brehon B. Somervell
- Lt. General William B. Bunker
- Major General Charles P. Gross
- SP4 James A. Loux
- SSGT Robert T. Kuroda
- Major General Robert Smalls
