John Lewis-class USNS John Lewis conducts builer's trials.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy on February 7, 2022, USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), the Navy’s lead ship of its new class of fleet replenishment oilers, conducted initial Builder’s Trials and returned to port.
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John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS John Lewis (Picture source: U.S. Navy)

Builder’s Trials consist of a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allow the Navy and the shipbuilder, General Dynamics National Steel, and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), to assess the ship’s systems and readiness prior to acceptance trials and delivery to the Navy.

The new John Lewis-class T-AOs will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide diesel fuel and lubricating oil, and small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions, stores, and potable water to Navy ships at sea, and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. The new T-AOs will add capacity to the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and become the cornerstone of the fuel delivery system.

The John Lewis class is a class of fleet replenishment oilers that began construction in September 2018.

The class will comprise twenty oilers which will be operated by Military Sealift Command to provide underway replenishment of fuel and limited amounts of dry cargo to the United States Navy Carrier Strike Groups, Amphibious ready groups, and other surface forces to allow them to operate worldwide.

The ships have capabilities similar to the Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oilers and rely on existing technology. The ships can carry 156,000 barrels of oil and have increased dry cargo storage over the Henry J. Kaiser class.