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Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9) V

2010-

Named in honor of Matthew Calbraith Perry (10 April 1794–4 March 1858). For additional information on Commodore Perry, see Matthew Calbraith Perry.

Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9) is the fifth ship named in honor of Commodore Perry - the first three ships so named were also named for his brother, Oliver Hazard Perry: armed side wheel ferry Commodore Perry; and destroyers Perry (Destroyer No. 11); and Perry (DD-824).

Three ships were named solely in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry: brig Perry; destroyer Perry (DD-340); and guided missile frigate Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7). For information on Commodore Oliver H. Perry, see Oliver Hazard Perry.

V

(T-AKE-9: displacement 42,528; length 689; beam 106'; draft 30'; speed 20 knots; complement 197; armament up to 6 .50 caliber or 7.62 millimeter machine guns and 2 Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawks or 2 Eurocopter (Aérospatiale) AS332 Super Pumas; class Lewis and Clark)

The fifth Matthew Perry (T-AKE-9) was laid down on 29 September 2008 at San Diego, Calif., by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 16 August 2009; sponsored by Mrs. Hester Evans, Commodore Perry’s great-great-great granddaughter; and was placed in service with the Military Sealift Command on 24 February 2010.

Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) 2010-
Matthew Perry sails from San Diego, Calif. (Undated U.S. Navy photograph, Military Sealift Command)

A magnitude 9.0 (Mw) undersea megathrust earthquake occurred off the Tōhoku region of Honshū, Japan, at 1446 on 11 March 2011. The earthquake triggered tsunami waves that reached more than 100 feet in height at places, and caused nearly 25,000 casualties, including more than 15,000 killed. The United States initiated Operation Tomodachi, from the Japanese Tomodachi Sakusen, "Operation Friends," to provide humanitarian relief to the victims. A total of 24,000 U.S. servicemembers, 189 aircraft, and 24 ships served in Tomodachi (12 March–4 May 2011). Matthew Perry supported Tomodachi during 21 days of operations. The ship completed 17 separate replenishments, delivered more than 1.5e6 U.S. gallons (5,700 m3) of fuel, and transported relief supplies.

Detailed history under construction.

Mark L. Evans

21 February 2014

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Published: Thu Aug 06 10:16:55 EDT 2015