The U.S. Navy has named a fleet replenishment oiler after former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, who served in the military during World War I.
The USNS Earl Warren will be the newest ship named in the John Lewis class of oilers, named after notable U.S. civil rights figures. Warren authored the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education desegregating schools. Other names included in the class are gay rights activist Harvey Milk and former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Construction on the Warren is expected to begin in 2019. Once functioning, the Military Sealift Command will operate it and provide underway replenishment of fuel and stores to Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft on carriers, according to the Defense Department.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus also formally named the first boat in the next class of ballistic missile submarines the Columbia, in honor of the District of Columbia. The boats will replace Ohio-class subs.
Mabus also named a new expeditionary fast transport vessel the USNS Puerto Rico.
