US Navy The fast combat support ship is designed to perform the functions of three old logistic ship types in one hull - fleet oiler (AO), ammunition ship (AE), and refrigerated stores ship (AF). Aside from supplying ships, fast combat support ships need the speed, weapons, sensors, and communications equipment, to serve as an integrated component of the carrier strike battle group. The concept of fast combat support ship was envisioned by
United States Navy admiral
Arleigh Burke, who laid out the concept as the solution to logistics problems he encountered in World War II. The first class of the fast combat support ship was the , built with multi-product supply stations, the largest fuel capacity, and the largest ammunition capacity in the US Navy at the time. The four ships of the
Sacramento-class were 53,000 tons at full load, 796 feet overall length, and carried two
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. The
Sacramento-class was retired in 2005. Air defense includes the
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow radar and infrared
surface-to-air missile in eight-cell launchers to provide point defense with 15km to 25km range. There are also two 20mm
Phalanx CIWS (close-in weapon systems) and two
Mk38 25mm cannons. All
Supply-class combat support ships were
commissioned until 2001, and then were transferred to
Military Sealift Command. As of early 2023, USNS
Rainier and USNS
Bridge have been taken out of service and struck. Along with the remaining two
Supply-class ships, US Navy fleets are currently supplied by s as well as and s.
PLA Navy In the 21st century,
China also developed the
Type 901 fast combat support ship, which serves a similar mission in their navy. == List of fast combat support ships ==