Algol II (T-AKR-287)
(T-AKR-287: dp. 26,094; 1. 947'; b. 105'; dr. 37'; s. 33.0k.; cpl. 44; cl. Algol; T. SL-7)
A fixed star in the constellation Perseus. It varies periodically in brightness because of eclipses by a satellite.
II
Sea-Land Exchange, a SL-7-type containership built in Rotterdam, Holland, by Rotterdamse DDM, first entered merchant service in May 1973. On 13 October 1981, she was acquired by the Navy to serve the needs of the Rapid Deployment Force (later called the Afloat Prepositioning Force). The ship was designated T-AK-287 at the time of her acquisition and renamed Algol on 15 October 1981. Her conversion at San Diego by the National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. for service with the Military Sealift Command was completed on 19 June 1984. Algo, reclassified to T-AKR-287 on 10 September 1982, became the first fast sealift ship to take part in a European exercise, when she participated in a NATO exercise, "Reforger 1984."
