Fifteen Military Sealift Command prepositioning ships are especially configured to transport supplies for the U.S. Marine Corps. Known as the Maritime Prepositioning Force, 13 ships were built or modified in the mid-1980s and are on location in the western Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The Maritime Prepositioning Ships, or MPS, contain nearly everything the Marines need for initial military operations—from tanks and ammunition to food and fuel to spare parts and engine oil. In 2000/2001, two MPF(E) vessels were added to the MPF.

The MPS are organized into three squadrons, each commanded by a Navy captain. MPS Squadron One, usually located in the Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea, has four ships; MPS Squadron Two, usually located at Diego Garcia, has five ships; and MPS Squadron Three, normally in the Guam/Saipan area, has four ships. In addition to Marine Corps designated ships, MPS squadron staffs also oversee all other prepositioning ships (Army and Air Force) in their geographic operating areas.

Each MPS squadron carries sufficient equipment and supplies to sustain 17,000 Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force personnel for up to 30 days. Each ship can discharge cargo either pierside or while anchored offshore using lighterage carried aboard. This capability gives the Marine Corps the ability to operate in both developed and underdeveloped areas of the world.

In the 1980s, the Navy contracted with the U.S. shipping industry to provide 13 ships to fill out the MPF. The ships are crewed by civilians under contract to Military Sealift Command. The ships are civilian owned by U.S. financial institutions and their shareholders. The ships are chartered by the financial institution to an operating company, which in turn crews and operates them with civilian mariners under the terms of a 25-year time charter with Military Sealift Command. The former Quincy Shipbuilding Division of General Dynamics built five of the thirteen MPS. In 2000 an MPF(E) vessel was added to MPS Squadron One.  Unlike the current MPS, which are under long-term charters, the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced), or MPF(E) ships, are U.S. government-owned vessels crewed by contractor-employed mariners. An additional MPF(E) vessel will be added to MPS Squadron Two in 2001.  

Each ship carries the supplies and equipment necessary for Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force operations ashore. Helicopter landing decks, capable of landing CH-53E Super Sea Stallion helicopters, have been installed on each ship. Additionally, each ship is configured with equipment repair and maintenance shops to permit maintenance support for embarked equipment. Cargo is stored in controlled-environment holds and containers. 

Berthing is provided for the ship’s crew of approximately 30 merchant mariners, a contracted cargo maintenance team and a contracted security guard team. One of the MPSRON ships also acts as the flag ship, embarking the squadron commander and staff (five officers, 15 enlisted). When conducting an operation, the off-load preparation party and/or naval support element of Marine Corps, Navy and civilian personnel are also aboard—approximately an additional 100 personnel.

Using a roll-on/roll-off stern ramp pierside, a ship can discharge all its cargo in three days. If no port facilities are available, the ship can use its in-stream off-load capabilities to discharge all cargo within five days. The in-stream off-load equipment includes several small water craft, causeway sections and a side-loadable warping tug. The ships can pump cargo fuel or water to troops from up to two miles from shore and can launch amphibious assault vehicles directly from the stern ramp into the sea.

AMSEA currently operates five of the vessels as follows:

Further information relative to the program and vessels can be found at www.msc.navy.mil.

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