USS Robert E. Simanek

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Military vehicles line a staging area Aug. 12, 2025, as Blount Island Command contractors offload the USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Florida. Operated by Military Sealift Command, the ship returned from prepositioning warfighting equipment in support of geographic commands and regional exercises, including Native Fury in Saudi Arabia and Balikatan in the Philippines. Blount Island Command deploys technical advisory and assistance teams worldwide to operationalize equipment, troubleshoot issues, enhance capabilities and sustain readiness in high-stakes environments. The Marine Corps Platform Integration Center’s RFID-based digital tagging system, developed at Blount Island, provides real-time tracking of mission-critical gear during slipway offloads and at forward sites, ensuring commanders have rapid, accurate visibility of assets. (Official Marine Corps Photo/Dustin Senger)

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250818-N-KC192-1015 NORFOLK, Va. (Aug. 17, 2025) Rear Adm. Robert Hawkins, commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (NMFL), and director, Defense Health Network (DHN) - Atlantic, observes as the Mercy-Class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), pulls into Naval Station Norfolk, Aug. 17, 2025. Comfort completed six mission visits to Grenada, Panama, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, providing direct care to thousands of patients. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Levi Decker)

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Norfolk, Va. (April 24, 2025) - Rear Adm. Philip E. Sobeck, Commander, Military Sealift Command, addresses Congressional team members on MSC's functions within the U.S. Navy during a tour on board USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) April 24, 2025. The purpose of the tour was to introduce Congressional team members to the U.S. Navy and the assets and programs that support the warfighter. (U.S. Navy photo by Ryan Carter.)

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ATLANTIC OCEANCARIBBEAN SEA (July 23, 2025) Civilian Mariners assigned to Military Sealift Command aboard the Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) perform maintenance on the air conditioning system during Continuing Promise 2025, July 23, 2025. Continuing Promise 2025 is the 16th iteration of the U.S. 4th Fleet/U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command-led mission since 2007, which aims to foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and form new partnerships between host nations, non-federal entities, and international organizations. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. William Hunter)

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Norfolk, Va. (Aug. 13, 2025) - USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 8) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk Aug. 13, 2025. Kennedy was MSC's newest vessel to arrive in Norfolk, and her primary mission will be the delivery of fuel to U.S. Navy ships. (U.S. Navy Photo by Ryan Carter)

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Norfolk, Va. (Aug. 17, 2025) - A Civil Service Mariner (CIVMAR) assigned to USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) throws a heaving line to the pier as they arrive back at Naval Station Norfolk after completing its summer deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations as part of Continuing Promise 2025 Aug. 17, 2025. Comfort completed six mission visits to Grenada, Panama, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, providing direct care to thousands of patients. (U.S. Navy photo by Ryan Carter)

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Norfolk, Va. (March 10, 2025) – Joseph Flatley, Chief Mate, USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12), briefs members of the Advanced Study of Air Mobility (ASAM) course on the equipment used in a replenishment at sea evolution during a tour of the ship March 10, 2025. During the tour 14 Air Force Majors visited various areas of the ship to familiarize themselves on the ship and at-sea naval logistics. (U.S. Navy photo by Ryan Carter.)

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BRISBANE, Australia (July 26, 2025) – Maxima Alexandra, Military Sealift Command third officer aboard the forward-deployed submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), supervises the ship's arrival to Brisbane, Australia for a scheduled port visit, July 26, 2025. Frank Cable is underway supporting U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed numbered fleet, operating with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew McPeek)

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Norfolk, Va. (May 5, 2025) - Capt. Jamie Murdock, Commodore, MSC Atlantic, delivers remarks during the new ship arrival ceremony for USNS Robert E. Simanek (T-ESB 7) May 5, 2025. The ship was named after Private First-Class Robert Ernest Simanek, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for shielding fellow Marines from a grenade at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the Korean War. (U.S. Navy photo by Ryan Carter)

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Norfolk, Va. (February 3, 2025) - Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, Virginia's Second Congressional District, tours the bridge on board USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) during a tour aboard the ship Feb. 3, 2025. During the tour Kiggans met with Military Sealift Command leadership to receive a workforce initiative brief and to familiarize herself with MSC capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Ryan Cater)

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Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Mr. C Scott Duncan addresses the crew of USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) during a ship tour, aboard the ship Aug. 13, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Brian Suriani)

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Rear Adm. Philip E. Sobeck, Commander, Military Sealift Command, addresses the crew of USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) during a ship tour, aboard the ship August 13, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Brian Suriani)

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Norfolk, Va. (Dec. 10, 2024) - Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Combat Logistics Force (CLF) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Dec. 10, 2024, after completing a 10-month deployment in U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility.

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NORFOLK, VA (July 27, 2024) A Sailor waits on the pier to assist the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) as the ship moors at Naval Station Norfolk July 27. Supply returned from an eight-month deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation in support of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group July 27. (Photo by Hendrick L. Dickson/Released).

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241210-N-KW492-1121 (Dec. 10, 2024) PHILIPPINE SEA A fueling probe from the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) is guided to a bell housing aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) during a replenishment at sea in the Philippine Sea, Dec. 10. Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF-73) in coordination with Military Sealift Command Far East (MSC FE) refuels and resupplies deployed naval forces, along with regional allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. Preble is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy's largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet's principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryre Arciaga)

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Norfolk, Va., (Sept. 24, 2024) -- Recently, Civil Service Mariners (CIVMARS) aboard Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) completed their first replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels. Apart of a six-month around the world training cruise, that began in May 2024 and included 180 newly commissioned JMSDF officers, JMSDF training vessels JS Kashima (TV-3508) and guided missile destroyer JS Shimakaze (DDG 172, TV 3521), which has now been converted into a training vessel, completed its first RAS event with USNS Harvey Milk in the Virginia Capes’ (VACAPES) operating area in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 24. This bilateral exercise between the United States and Japan helps to improve JMSDF’s tactical capabilities and to build on the interoperability between the JMSDF and the U.S. Navy. Pictured above is JS Shimakaze crewmembers acknowledging their connection to USNS Harvey Milk.

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