SS Capella (T-AKR 293)

- formerly USNS Capella (T-AKR 293), formerly T-AK 293, formerly SS SEA-LAND McLEAN -

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Named after the star in the constellation Auriga, the SS CAPELLA is the seventh ALGOL - class fast sealift ship and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. Ships in that class are the world's fastest cargo ships. Originally built in the Netherlands in 1973 as SS SEA-LAND McLEAN for Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J., the ship was purchased by the Navy in 1982 and converted. The cargo hold was redesigned into a series of decks connected by ramps so that vehicles can now be driven in and out of storage areas for rapid loading and unloading. Four cranes were installed - twin cranes amidships capable of lifting 35 long tons and twin cranes aft capable of lifting 50 long tons. The CAPELLA was delivered to the Military Sealift Command in 1984.

Since then, the CAPELLA was involved in several operations including Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990/91), Restore Hope (1992) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2001 - ). On October 1, 2007, the CAPELLA was transferred to the MARAD. On October 1, 2008, the ship was transferred to the Ready Reserve Force and lost her USNS designation.

General Characteristics:	Launched: September 1, 1972
	Delivered to Sea-Land Services, Inc., Port Elizabeth, N.J.: October 1,1973
	Purchased by the Navy: April 16, 1982
	Conversion started: October 23, 1982
	Delivered: July 1, 1984
	Builder: Rotterdamsche D.D.Mij N.V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands
	Conversion yard: Pennsylvania Shipbuilding, Chester, PA
	Propulsion system: two Foster-Wheeler boilers, 875 psi (61.6kg/cm2); 9500F (5100C) and two GE MST-19 steam turbines; 120,000 hp (89.5 MW)
	Propellers: two
	Length: 946.2 feet (288.4 meters)
	Beam: 105.6 feet (32.2 meters)
	Draft: 36.4 feet (11.1 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 55,355 tons full load
	Speed: 33 knots
	Aircraft: helicopter landing area only
	Armament: none
	Capacity: more than 700 Army vehicles (including tanks, trucks, and helicopters)
	Crew: 43 civilians, 12 military technicians (fully operational); 18 civilians (reduced operating status)
	Homeport: Alameda, CA

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Crew List:

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

Click here to view the list.

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SS CAPELLA Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by me and shows the CAPELLA berthed at Alameda, Calif., on March 28, 2010.

The photo below was taken by me and shows the CAPELLA berthed alongside her sistership ALGOL (T-AKR 287) at their layberth at Alameda, Calif., on October 10, 2012.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CAPELLA at San Francisco, Calif., on October 6, 2022.

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