| Career (France) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Unknown |
| Owner: | Unknown |
| Builder: | fr:Chantier naval de La Ciotat |
| Fate: | Re-flagged US and named MV Buffalo Soldier |
| Career (United States) | |
| Name: | MV Buffalo Soldier |
| Namesake: | US Army Buffalo Soldiers |
| Owner: | RR and VO Partnership |
| Acquired: | on 17-month contact to MSC |
| In service: | COMPSRON TWO |
| Out of service: | late 2001; returned to her owners after completion of her MSC charter |
| Notes: | NavSource Online |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Buffalo Soldier class T-AK Container & Roll-on/Roll-off Ship |
| Displacement: | 26,378 long tons (26,801 t) |
| Length: | 670 ft (200 m) |
| Beam: | 87 ft (27 m) |
| Draft: | 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m) |
| Speed: | 16 kn (30 km/h) |
| Complement: | 19 civilian, 0 military |
Merchant Vessel Buffalo Soldier (T-AK-9301) is roll-on/roll-off ship, formerly of the French Government Line (now merged into CMA CGM.) She was sold and reflagged US, renamed to honor Buffalo Soldiers, and charted by the United States Navy Military Sealift Command as a Maritime Prepositioning ship serving at Diego Garcia laden with U.S. Air Force munitions. She is self-sustaining, that is, she can unload herself, an asset in harbors with little or no infrastructure. Her 120-long-ton capacity roll-on/roll-off ramp accommodates tracked and wheeled vehicles of every description. While she is not currently in service with MSC, ships with her general characteristics are designated Buffalo Soldier class, fleet designation AK 2222.[1]