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USNS 2nd LT John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008)

- Military Sealift Command -
- formerly MV 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO (T-AK 3008) -


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Serving as flagship for Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron (MPSRON) 1, the USNS 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO is the lead ship of the 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO - class of Cargo Ships and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. The ship carries a full range of Marine Corps cargo, enough cargo to support a Marine Air Ground Task Force for 30 days. Additionally, the 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO has lift-on/lift-off capabilities as well as roll-on/roll-off capabilities. Navy lighterage carried onboard consists of causeways, both powered and unpowered, and small boats to move them around.

The 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO usually participates in at least one major Maritime Prepositioning Force exercise per year. Since 1985, the MV 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO had been under long-term lease to Military Sealift Command from American Overseas Marine. On January 16, 2007, the Military Sealift Command purchased the ship, making her USNS 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO.

General Characteristics:Keel laid: September 1983
Launched: January 1985
Delivered: February 1985
Builder: General Dynamics, Quincy, Massachusetts
Propulsion system: 2 Stork-Wartsilia Werkspoor 16TM410 diesels; 27,000 hp sustained; 1 shaft, bow thruster; 1,000 hp
Propellers: one
Length: 672.6 feet (205 meters)
Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters)
Draft: 29.5 feet (9 meters)
Displacement: approx. 44,330 tons full load
Speed: 18 knots
Aircraft: helicopter platform only (certified to land up to CH-53E helicopters)
Armament: none
Capacity:
  • 162,500 sq. ft. vehicle
  • 1,605,000 gallons petroleum
  • 81,700 gallons water
  • 522 TEU
Crew: 8 US Navy personnel, 30 civilians and 25 civilian maintenance
Homeport: not assigned


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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About the Ship's Name:

USNS 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO is named after 2nd LT John P. Bobo who porthumously earned a Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Weapons Platoon Commander, Company I, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 30 March 1967. Company I was establishing night ambush sites when the command group was attacked by a reinforced North Vietnamese company supported by heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. Lieutenant Bobo immediately organized a hasty defense and moved from position to position encouraging the outnumbered Marines despite the murderous enemy fire. Recovering a rocket launcher from among the friendly casualties, he organized a new launcher team and directed its fire into the enemy gun positions. When an exploding enemy mortar round severed Lieutenant Bobo's right leg below the knee, he refused to be evacuated and insisted upon being placed in a firing position to cover the movement of the command group to a better location. With a web belt around his leg, jammed into the dirt to curtail the bleeding, he remained in this position and delivered devastating fire into the ranks of the enemy attempting to overrun the Marines. Lieutenant Bobo was mortally wounded while firing his weapon into the main point of the enemy attack but his valiant spirit inspired his men to heroic efforts, and his tenacious stand enabled the command group to gain a protective position where it repulsed the enemy onslaught. Lieutenant Bobo's superb leadership, dauntless courage, and bold initiative reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.



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The photos below were taken by Stefan Karpinski and show the 2ND LT JOHN P. BOBO underway in Middle East waters in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003.



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