Which ships does the Military Sealift Command primarily operate?

The Military Sealift Command (MSC) primarily operates ships designated with the United States Naval Ship (USNS) prefix. These vessels are part of the U.S. Navy and are dedicated to supporting the military by providing sealift capabilities, logistics, and other specialized services. The USNS ships are primarily crewed by civilian mariners, which allows the military to leverage their expertise and experience for critical logistical roles without the need to maintain large military crews on board.

This selection accurately reflects the mission and operational structure of the MSC, which focuses on non-combat support through civilian-manned ships, including cargo vessels, tankers, and hospital ships, among others designated as USNS. The operational flexibility provided by utilizing civilian crews enables the military to maintain its primary combat-ready forces while ensuring that vital supplies and logistics support are delivered efficiently.

In contrast, ships with the prefix "DDG" are destroyers designed for combat operations and are manned by active-duty Navy personnel, which falls outside the operational scope of the MSC. Ships crewed exclusively by military personnel do not align with the MSC's structure of civilian manning, and aircraft carriers are a part of operational combat fleets rather than logistics or supportive roles specific to the MSC.