A Tentative Fleet Plan
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Source: p474-p475, US Amphibious Ships and Craft, Norman Friedman
The Center of Naval Analyses (CNA) compared a number of different ship designs for the role of the Maritime Prepositioning Squadron (MPS). One of these was the PD-214 "Security Class" (C8-M-MA134), a conceptual mobilisation ship, the design of which was started by the Maritime Administration in 1974, with the preliminary design being completed in 1978, and the contract design was being completed in 1980, at the time CNA's MPS study was taking place. As the navy had no MPS design to hand, the PD-214 was to be modified to meet the requirement. PD-214 was a break-bulk ship due to the assumption that it might have deliver cargo to areas without elaborate container facilities, and some military equipment including tanks could not be carried inside standard containers.
In August of 1980, NAVSEA began to modify the Jumbo PD-214 (C8-M-MA134J) into a mobilisation ship referred to as TAKX. Defence features included decks strengthened for 60-ton tanks, a stern ramp and heavy cranes to permit the ship to unload herself. Lighterage would be 4x powered causeways, 6x unpowered causeways, 2x LCM(8)s and a side-warping tug to install the necessary bulk fuel distribution system. The ship would have a CH-53-size helicopter pad and could offload LVTs down her stern ramp. (I've placed the changes in dimensions and capacity into the table. The original in Friedman only compared the PD-214, Jumbo PD-214, the Maine and the Waterman Line's modified Maine)
In August of 1980 it was expected that the first TAKX would be included in the FY81 program, and requests for proposals were expected shortly. It would take 12 Maines or 15 PD-214s to support the three Marine Amphibious Brigades that made up an MPS. Estimated operating and acquisition costs for FY81-87 were $4.1 and $4.3 billion respectively, with the necessary squadrons being placed into service in 1983, 1985 and 1987.
By 1980, the four-year defence plan called for the conversion of 4 Maines and buying 8 PD-214s. The original plan had been to buy 15 TAKXs, at a unit price of $103.5 million, but numbers were cut when this rose above $174 million. As submitted, the FY81 budget called for a lead ship plus $33 million for the long-lead items of a second. Congress initially authorised two TAKXs, but then stalled after several shipping lines saw this program as a way to offload surplus shipping, including the Waterman Line's three enlarged Maines (originally built for trade with the Soviet Union, which was now collapsing after the invasion of Afghanistan) and Sealand's eight SL-7s. Apparently several Congressmembers confused Maritime Prepositioning and Sealift requirements, the Navy budget was cut and was told to choose between the SL-7s and Prepositioning ships. The SL-7s were not in the original FY81 program, and were not authorised by the House, but were pushed hard by the Senate, and thus survived in the Defence program. In May 1981, the Reagan Administration killed off TAKX, as competing priorities meant there was no money for it, and decided to convert and charter civilian ships to fill the MPS role.
Lengths for the PD-214s are between perpendiculars and overall respectively.
*Dry cargo can be substituted for vehicles, thereby increasing cu ft to 153,360.
Does anyone happen to know more about the PD-214 mobilisation ship, or TAKX?
The Center of Naval Analyses (CNA) compared a number of different ship designs for the role of the Maritime Prepositioning Squadron (MPS). One of these was the PD-214 "Security Class" (C8-M-MA134), a conceptual mobilisation ship, the design of which was started by the Maritime Administration in 1974, with the preliminary design being completed in 1978, and the contract design was being completed in 1980, at the time CNA's MPS study was taking place. As the navy had no MPS design to hand, the PD-214 was to be modified to meet the requirement. PD-214 was a break-bulk ship due to the assumption that it might have deliver cargo to areas without elaborate container facilities, and some military equipment including tanks could not be carried inside standard containers.
In August of 1980, NAVSEA began to modify the Jumbo PD-214 (C8-M-MA134J) into a mobilisation ship referred to as TAKX. Defence features included decks strengthened for 60-ton tanks, a stern ramp and heavy cranes to permit the ship to unload herself. Lighterage would be 4x powered causeways, 6x unpowered causeways, 2x LCM(8)s and a side-warping tug to install the necessary bulk fuel distribution system. The ship would have a CH-53-size helicopter pad and could offload LVTs down her stern ramp. (I've placed the changes in dimensions and capacity into the table. The original in Friedman only compared the PD-214, Jumbo PD-214, the Maine and the Waterman Line's modified Maine)
In August of 1980 it was expected that the first TAKX would be included in the FY81 program, and requests for proposals were expected shortly. It would take 12 Maines or 15 PD-214s to support the three Marine Amphibious Brigades that made up an MPS. Estimated operating and acquisition costs for FY81-87 were $4.1 and $4.3 billion respectively, with the necessary squadrons being placed into service in 1983, 1985 and 1987.
By 1980, the four-year defence plan called for the conversion of 4 Maines and buying 8 PD-214s. The original plan had been to buy 15 TAKXs, at a unit price of $103.5 million, but numbers were cut when this rose above $174 million. As submitted, the FY81 budget called for a lead ship plus $33 million for the long-lead items of a second. Congress initially authorised two TAKXs, but then stalled after several shipping lines saw this program as a way to offload surplus shipping, including the Waterman Line's three enlarged Maines (originally built for trade with the Soviet Union, which was now collapsing after the invasion of Afghanistan) and Sealand's eight SL-7s. Apparently several Congressmembers confused Maritime Prepositioning and Sealift requirements, the Navy budget was cut and was told to choose between the SL-7s and Prepositioning ships. The SL-7s were not in the original FY81 program, and were not authorised by the House, but were pushed hard by the Senate, and thus survived in the Defence program. In May 1981, the Reagan Administration killed off TAKX, as competing priorities meant there was no money for it, and decided to convert and charter civilian ships to fill the MPS role.
| PD-214 (C8-M-MA134) | Jumbo PD-214 (C8-M-MA134J) | TAKX | Maine (C7-S-95A) | Waterman (C7-S-133A) | |
| Length (ft) | 560/609 | 670/719 | 831ft 6in oa | 640 | 640 |
| Beam (ft) | 97 | 97 | 105.5 | 102 | 105.5 |
| Draft (ft) | 30 | 30 | NA | 32 | 33 |
| Displacement (tons) | 28,870 | 37,800 | 20,860 (light), 48,860 (loaded) | 33,765 | 38,500 |
| Power (SHP) | 22,500 | 22,500 | NA | 37,000 | 32,000 |
| Speed (kt) | 21.5 | 21.5 | NA | 23 | 20.9 |
| Capacity (sq ft) | NA | NA | 170,000 | 144,770 | 62,025 |
| Dry Capacity (cu ft) | NA | NA | 400,000 | 158,800* | 1,039,550 |
| Liquid Capacity (cu ft) | NA | NA | (from text 1.9 million gallons) approx 254,000 cu ft | 28,330 | 13,229 |
*Dry cargo can be substituted for vehicles, thereby increasing cu ft to 153,360.
Does anyone happen to know more about the PD-214 mobilisation ship, or TAKX?
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