John Lewis-class (T-AO-205)

The John Lewis class is a series of fleet replenishment oilers built by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) in San Diego for the United States Navy and operated by Military Sealift Command. NASSCO received the design and construction contract for the first six ships in June 2016, and construction of the lead ship, USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205), began in September 2018. In September 2024 General Dynamics received a contract for eight additional oilers, with deliveries running to January 2035. Twenty ships are planned, replacing the Henry J. Kaiser class.

The oilers are double-hulled and built to commercial standards under American Bureau of Shipping steel vessel rules while meeting OPNAVINST 9070.1 requirements. Capabilities are broadly comparable to the Henry J. Kaiser class and rely on existing technology, with cargo capacity of 156,000 barrels of oil and greater dry cargo stowage than the earlier ships. Each hull has five refueling stations, with fuel and stores transfer rigs on both sides, plus two dry cargo transfer rigs, and a helicopter flight deck. Propulsion consists of two Fairbanks-Morse 12V48/60CR medium-speed diesel engines driving two shafts.

Defensive fit is limited. The ships carry AN/SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures and multiple .50-caliber machine guns, which are crew-served weapons manned by embarked Navy Expeditionary Security Teams against small boat attack. Space, weight, and power are reserved for the Phalanx close-in weapon system or SeaRAM and for an anti-torpedo torpedo defense system; even with those fitted, the oilers require escort in higher threat environments.

John Lewis was laid down on 13 May 2019, launched on 12 January 2021, and entered service on 27 July 2022. Delivery of the lead ship slipped from November 2020 to June 2021 because of late equipment deliveries and flooding of a graving dock. USNS Oscar V. Peterson (T-AO-206), laid down in September 2020 and launched in November 2021, entered service on 11 July 2023. USNS Earl Warren (T-AO-207) entered service on 7 May 2024, USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO-208) on 10 December 2024, USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO-209) on 16 December 2025, and USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO-210) in June 2026. USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO-211), USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO-212), USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO-213), USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO-214), and USNS Joshua L. Goldberg (T-AO-215) are under construction, with USNS Thomas D. Parham (T-AO-216) and hulls T-AO-217 through T-AO-221 on order.

Ships of the class are named for American civil rights leaders and activists, including John Lewis himself, Earl Warren, Robert F. Kennedy, Lucy Stone, Sojourner Truth, Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Harriet Tubman. In June 2025 T-AO-206, originally named Harvey Milk, was renamed for Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson. The Secretary of Defense stated the renaming was intended to align the Navy with the administration's priorities and to "reestablish the warrior culture." The Navy stated no other ships in the class would be renamed.