USS SACRAMENTO is the lead ship of the SACRAMENTO class and was the first ship in the Navy to combine the functions of three logistic support ships in one hull - fleet oiler (AO), ammunition ship (AE), and refrigerated stores ship (AF). USS SACRAMENTO is the third ship to bear the name of the capital city and river in the State of California. Characteristics Keel Laid: June 30, 1961 Launched: September 14, 1963 Commissioning: March 14, 1964 Builder: Puget Sound NSY, Bremerton, Wash. Propulsion System: four V2M 600 PSI Propulsion Boilers Propellers: two 23' - largest in the Navy Length: 794 feet (242 meters) Beam: 107 feet (32.6 meters) Draft: 38 feet (11.6 meters) Displacement: approx. 53,000 tons Speed: 26 knots Aircraft: two CH-46 Armament: one Sea Sparrow launcher, two Phalanx CIWS guns Homeport: Bremerton, Washington Crew: 34 Officers, 602 Enlisted When built, SACRAMENTO carried more fuel than the largest oiler and more ammunition than the largest ammunition ship in the U.S. Navy as well as a significant portion of the supplies that a stores ships could carry. Today SACRAMENTO carries, (95% fully loaded) 5.2 million gallons of rnarine distillate fuel and 2.7 million gallons of aviation jet fuel. SACRAMENTO is also capable of carrying over 6 thousand tons of all types of ammunition, 300 tons of refrigerated provisions, 500 tons of dry provisions and 150 tons of other supplies. SACRAMENTO carries 220 different items (dry and refrigerated) and 120 other items when deployed. SACRAMENTO was originally equipped with the first Fast Automated Shuttle Transfer (FAST) system to handle ammunition and stores. FAST relied on the use of cranes to move missiles and cargo containers on weather decks and hoists to move cargo from the 01 level to the main deck. In 1977 Sacramento's elevators were modified to lift cargo directly to the 01 level and the FAST cranes, transfer rails, and hoists were removed. the new system allowed cargo to be moved from hold to elevator to transfer station using standard electric fork truck and is far less prone to equipment malfunctions. In addition the modern Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method (STREAM) unrep system was installed. Fuel is delivered through four double and two single hose (STREAM) fuel lines which are fed by large turbine driven cargo fuel pumps capable of supplying fuel at 40 to 120 psi at a maximum flow rate of three-thousand gallons per minute per pump used. This process is termed FAS for Fueling At Sea. Cargo, ammunition and supplies are moved vertically over seven decks (weather deck, cargo handling and staging deck and five levels of cargo holds) by seven different elevators. Elevators one through six service the four ammunition holds and number seven elevator and a package conveyor service the provisions hold (hold five). The supplies are moved horizontally by a fleet of 33 fork trucks of various types and sizes which allow breakout, positioning and stowage of cargo and ammunition with efficiency. Cargo is delivered by four heavy and three standard lift STREAM cargo stations or by a detachment of two CH-46 "Sea Knight" combat support helicopters which deploy with the SACRAMENTO. The process of resupplying a ship alongside by means of a fuel or cargo station is termed CONREP for connected replenishment. The two helicopters (SACRAMENTO has hangar space for three). They add another dimension to SACRAMENTO?s ability to transfer freight, mail, personnel, provisions and ammunition termed VERTREP for Vertical Replenishment. The VERTREP capability allows SACRAMENTO to resupply ships in a dispersed formation, reduces alongside replenishment time, and allows transfer of cargo over greater distances. In a cost savings move the USS SACRAMENTO is scheduled to be decommissioned in October 2004 instead of extending her life with a yard overhaul.