Prepositioning ship

Originally obtained for the United States Marine Corps, but now making up United States Transportation Command's Afloat Prepositioning Force, (maritime) prepositioning ships carry the supplies to sustain a unit, whose personnel may fly in on passenger transport aircraft and man the equipment aboard the ships. The most common grouping is a squadron, which carries 30 days of supplies for a Marine Expeditionary Brigade, although there are prepositioning ships that carry ammunition for United States Air Force operations.

There are three kinds of ship, which operate in joint squadrons: Air mobility is intimately associated with prepositioning ships, since many plans conceive of troops flying to the port or location where the ships unload.

• Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) in support of the U.S. Marine Corps
• Combat Prepositioning Ships (CPSs) in support of the U.S. Army
• Logistics Prepositioning Ships, (LPS) in support of the U.S. Navy, Defense Logistics Agency, and U.S. Air Force.

The ships are civilian-owned, and chartered by the United States Transportation Command. Depending on the area of operations, they may anchor at a secure forward location such as Guam or Diego Garcia, or may stay at sea, especially in the Mediterranean.

Maritime Prepositioning Squadron One

Operates in the Mediterranean:

• SS Sgt. Matej Kocak (MPF)
• MV 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (MPF)
• SS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (MPF)
• SS Pfc. Eugene A. Obregon (MPF)
• MV Capt. Stephen L. Bennett (LPS)
• USNS Harry L. Martin (MPF(E))

Maritime Prepositioning Squadron Two

Operates from Diego Garcia:

• MV American Cormorant (CPS)
• MV Strong Virginian (CPS)
• MV Buffalo Soldier (LPS)
• SS Green Valley (CPS)
• MV Green Harbour (CPS)
• MV Jeb Stuart (CPS)
• MV Lt. Alex Bonnyman (MPF)
• MV Pfc. William B. Baugh (MPF)
• SS Cape Jacob (LPS)
• MV Pvt. Franklin J. Phillips (MPF)
• MV Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr. (MPF)
• MV Pfc. James Anderson Jr. (MPF)
• USNS Henry J. Kaiser (LPS)
• SS Potomac (LPS)
• MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (LPS)

Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadron 3

Operates from Guam/Saipan

• MV Spec. 5 Eric G, Gibson (CPS)
• MV Lt. Col. Calvin P. Titus (CPS)
• SS Gopher State (CPS)
• MV Sgt. William R. Button (MPF)
• MV 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez (MPF)
• MV Pfc. DeWayne T. Williams (MPF)
• MV 1st Lt. Jack Lummus (MPF)
• SS Petersburg (LPS)

Afloat Propositioning Ships Squadron 4

Operates from Diego Garcia

• USNS Gilliland (CPS)
• USNS Watson (CPS)
• USNS Sisler (CPS)
• USNS Bob Hope (CPS)
• USNS Dahl (CPS)
• USNS Red Cloud (CPS)