US Navy receives USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. logistics ship

The US Navy has officially received the USNS ‘Hector A. Cafferata Jr.’ (ESB-8), a 90,000-ton logistics support ship built by General Dynamics NASSCO. This vessel completes the strategic Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) program, bringing the total number of ships in this fleet to six.

Designed to project naval power and sustain operations in remote areas without traditional port infrastructure, the ship features a large flight deck capable of supporting multiple rotary-wing aircraft, including MV-22 Ospreys and heavy-lift helicopters. The vessel is equipped to support air operations, special operations, mine countermeasures, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance.

Named after a Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War, the ship will now undergo post-delivery testing, system certification, and operational evaluations to validate its command-and-control infrastructure and air operations capabilities before full operational deployment.