SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — The fast-combat support ship USS Sacramento recently tallied four days here, receiving fuel and supply replenishment, upkeep and rest on its way to an unspecified destination.
The Sacramento, which accommodates a crew of 636, arrived in Sasebo Harbor on Aug. 27 and departed Sunday, Yoko Aramaki, base deputy public affairs officer, said Wednesday.
She noted that the mission of Sasebo Naval Base, along with its tenant commands, is to “provide logistics such as fuel, ammunition, food, ship maintenance if needed and to operate and maintain base facilities to provide community and base support.”
Aramaki referred questions about the 40-year-old Sacramento’s destination to 7th Fleet officials.
“As you know, we do not discuss future operations,” said Lt. Marc Boyd, a 7th Fleet spokesman.
Fast-combat support ships are high-speed vessels used as oilers, and suppliers of ammunition and supplies.
They are the Navy’s largest combat logistics ships, with the speed and armament to keep up with aircraft carrier battle groups, according to the Navy Fact File Web site.
The ships are capable of rapidly replenishing Navy task forces and can carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil, 2,150 tons of ammunition, 500 tons of dry stores and 250 tons of refrigerated stores, the site reports.
While operating, the Sacramento and others in the class receive petroleum products, ammunition and supplies from shuttle ships. Then, the fast-combat support ships redistribute the items simultaneously to carrier battle group ships, reducing the vulnerability of the serviced vessels by decreasing the alongside time.
The Sacramento’s home port is in Bremerton, Wash.
