USNS Saturn (T-AFS-10)

• Origins: USNS Saturn (T-AFS-10) was originally built as SS J. L. Luckenbach in 1966 for commercial cargo service before being acquired by the U.S. Navy. • Alstede-Class: After acquisition, she was converted into an Alstede-class stores ship, designed to deliver food, stores, and provisions to fleets at sea. • Renaming: The vessel was renamed Saturn after the Roman god of agriculture, continuing the Navy’s tradition of naming supply ships after celestial bodies and mythological figures. • MSTS/MSC Service: She served under the Military Sealift Command (MSC), meaning she was crewed primarily by civilian mariners while supporting Navy operations. • Replenishment-at-Sea: USNS Saturn was equipped to perform underway replenishments, transferring supplies, fuel, and ammunition to other ships while both were moving at sea. • Cold War Service: Saturn played a vital role during the Cold War, supporting U.S. and allied naval forces in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and beyond. • Support in Operations: She provided logistics support during major operations, including various NATO exercises and Middle East deployments. • Lengthy Service: USNS Saturn served the U.S. Navy for over three decades, from her conversion in 1967 until her deactivation in 2009. • “Jersey Bounce” Nickname: During her commercial days, the ship’s nickname was “Jersey Bounce,” a nod to the Luckenbach family’s New Jersey roots. • Final Fate: After deactivation, Saturn was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, and as of 2010, she was awaiting final disposition.