In a ceremony held in San Diego, California, on April 25, 2025, the USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210) was christened and launched. It is the sixth vessel of the U.S. Navy’s new John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers. The ship is named in honor of Sojourner Truth, a prominent 19th-century abolitionist and human rights advocate.
The contract for the design and construction of the first nine ships in the class was awarded in 2016 to the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard as part of the T-AO program, which aims to replace the aging Henry J. Kaiser-class oilers. The program reflects the U.S. Navy’s growing need to expand its fleet of tankers, particularly in anticipation of potential conflict scenarios in the Pacific. An analysis by Captain Stephen M. Carmel for the Center for International Maritime Security warned that, in the event of a large-scale war, the Department of Defense could require more than a hundred tankers of various types.
Designed with double hulls according to commercial standards and certified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the John Lewis-class ships will enhance at-sea replenishment capabilities. Their primary mission is to support carrier strike groups, amphibious forces, and surface units by transporting fuel and dry cargo. Operated by the Military Sealift Command, these oilers are equipped with modular self-defense systems and are configured for global operations.
To date, the Navy has received the first four ships in the class: USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207), and USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208). Meanwhile, the USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211) and USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212) are under construction, with work on the USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213) expected to begin soon.
During the ceremony, NASSCO President Dave Carver emphasized the significance of the vessel’s name: “What we launch today is not just a ship, but a legacy. The USNS Sojourner Truth will carry across the oceans the values of courage and conviction that she championed, reminding us that service to the nation takes many forms.”
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