USNS Yano (T-AKR 297)

- formerly LEISE MAERSK -
- Military Sealift Command -

Sorry,
no coat of arms
available.

Built as commercial container ship LEISE MAERSK in Denmark in 1980, the ship was lengthened by Hyundai in 1987 and in the early 1990s, the Navy purchased the LEISE MAERSK. The ship subsequently underwent conversion to a large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship (LMSR) at NASSCO and was delivered to the Military Sealift Command in 1997 where the ship entered service as USNS YANO becoming the first ship in the Navy named after US Army Sergeant First Class Rodney J. T. Yano. The USNS YANO is operated by Bay Ship Management, Inc. under US Navy Military Sealift Command charter, and is manned by US Merchant Marine personnel.

General Characteristics:	Delivered: June 1, 1980
	Builder: Lindovaerftet, Odense, Denmark
	Conversion yard: National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif.
	Delivered to MSC: February 8, 1997
	Propulsion system: 1 Burmeister & Wain 12L90 GFCA diesel; 1 shaft; bow and stern thrusters
	Propellers: one
	Length: 908.8 (277 meters)
	Beam: 105.6 feet (32.2 meters)
	Draft: 34.8 feet (10.6 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 54,450 tons full load
	Speed: 24 knots
	Aircraft: helicopter landing area only
	Armament: none
	Capacity: 312,461 sq. ft.
	Crew: 26 civilian crew (up to 45); up to 50 active duty
	Homeport: Newport News, VA

go to the end of the page

Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS YANO. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

go to the end of the page

Accidents aboard USNS YANO:

Date	Where	Events
February 25, 1996	San Diego, Calif.	USNS YANO breaks mooring lines and colliding with the USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG 48). The frigate suffers hull damage to its AMR3, CCS, and COC areas.

go to the end of the page

About the Ship's Name:

USNS YANO is named in honor of US Army Sergeant First Class Rodney J. T. Yano who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions near Bien Hao, Republic of Vietnam, on January 1, 1969.

Citation:

Sfc. Yano distinguished himself while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop. Sfc. Yano was performing the duties of crew chief aboard the troop's command-and-control helicopter during action against enemy forces entrenched in dense jungle. From an exposed position in the face of intense small arms and antiaircraft fire he delivered suppressive fire upon the enemy forces and marked their positions with smoke and white phosphorous grenades, thus enabling his troop commander to direct accurate and effective artillery fire against the hostile emplacements. A grenade, exploding prematurely, covered him with burning phosphorous, and left him severely wounded. Flaming fragments within the helicopter caused supplies and ammunition to detonate. Dense white smoke filled the aircraft, obscuring the pilot's vision and causing him to lose control. Although having the use of only 1 arm and being partially blinded by the initial explosion, Sfc. Yano completely disregarded his welfare and began hurling blazing ammunition from the helicopter. In so doing he inflicted additional wounds upon himself, yet he persisted until the danger was past. Sfc. Yano's indomitable courage and profound concern for his comrades averted loss of life and additional injury to the rest of the crew. By his conspicuous gallantry at the cost of his life, in the highest traditions of the military service, Sfc. Yano has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

go to the end of the page

USNS YANO Image Gallery:

Back to Vehicle Cargo Ships.

Back to ships list.

Back to selection page.

Back to 1^st page.