USS Arctic (T-AOE-8)

• Class & Type: USS Arctic (T-AOE-8) was a supply ship of the Sacramento-class fast combat support ships, designed to provide underway replenishment to U.S. Navy carrier battle groups. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 14 January 1995, making it one of the last Sacramento-class ships built for the U.S. Navy. • Name Heritage: USS Arctic is the fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name "Arctic," a tradition dating back to the Civil War era. • Dual Crewing: Arctic had a unique hybrid crew—operated by both U.S. Navy personnel and Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian mariners during different periods of service. • High Speed & Capacity: Capable of speeds up to 25 knots, Arctic could rapidly supply carrier strike groups with fuel, ammunition, and stores, carrying over 180,000 barrels of fuel and large quantities of ordnance. • Bosnia Support: USS Arctic played a key logistical role in supporting U.S. and NATO fleet operations during the conflicts in the Balkans in the late 1990s. • Multiple Missions: The ship participated in numerous RIMPAC, UNITAS, and NATO exercises, showcasing U.S. naval logistics capabilities worldwide. • Collision Incident: In 1999, Arctic was involved in a minor collision with the USS Detroit (AOE-4) during an underway replenishment, but both ships continued their missions after repairs. • Decommissioning: USS Arctic was decommissioned in 2002, after just seven years of active service, due to post-Cold War fleet reductions and high operating costs. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, the ship was transferred to the Military Sealift Command as USNS Arctic (T-AOE-8), but was placed in reserve and eventually struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 2005.