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USNS Comet

USNS Comet (T-AK-269), later T-LSV-7, later T-AKR-7, later SS Comet, is a vehicle landing ship originally built for the U.S. Navy. The lone ship of its class, it was built at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Chester, Pennsylvania and was delivered in January 1958. The Comet is considered to be the first oceangoing “Roll On/Roll Off” vessel.

The Comet, has a stern ramp as well as interior ramps, which allowed vehicles to drive directly from the dock, onto the ship, and into place. The Comet also has an adjustable chocking system for locking vehicles onto the decks and a ventilation system to remove exhaust gases that accumulate during vehicle loading.

The Comet operated as part of the common user fleet of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), later Military Sealift Command (MSC).

In 2014, the Maritime Administration submitted a docket for disposing of the ship from the National Defense Reserve Fleet.



Launched July 31, 1957
Builder Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co
Length 499’
Beam 78’
Designed Operating Draft 22’
Displacement ( (Full Load) 16,489 LongTons
Gross Registered Tonnage 13,790
Propulsion Steam Turbines
Maximum Continuous
Shaft Horsepower
13,200
Normal Shaft Horsepower 12,000
Service Speed 18 Knots
Cruising Radius at 18 knots 13,000 Miles