The U.S. Navy’s newest vessel, USNS Robert E. Simanek (T-ESB 7), is set to make its arrival at Naval Station Norfolk on Monday.
Named after a Korean War hero, the ship honors Private First-Class Robert Ernest Simanek, who received the Medal of Honor from former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a 1953 White House ceremony.
The vessel represents the fifth expeditionary sea base (ESB) variant of the Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) platform, built for Military Sealift Command (MSC). These ships are designed to offer flexible logistical support for a myriad of military operations, with core capabilities that include aviation, berthing, equipment staging, and command and control…