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MV TSgt. John A. Chapman (AK-323) moored pierside at Military Ocean Terminal at Sunny Point, N.C., 8 April 2006 during renaming ceremony.
History
France
Name	MV CGM Utrillo
Owner	Compagnie Générale Maritime
Launched	1978
Fate	Purchased in 1992 by American Automar, re-flagged US and renamed MV American Merlin
History
United States
Name	MV American Merlin
Owner	American Automar
Acquired	1992
In service	until late 2001 under long term lease as AK-323 MSC
Out of service	Returned to her owners after completion of her MSC charter
Reinstated	Acquired by Sealift Inc and renamed MV Merlin
Notes	MV American Merlin was assigned to Maritime Prepositioning Program Squadron Two and operated out of Diego Garcia
History
United States
Name	MV TSgt John A. Chapman (AK-323)
Namesake	Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman, from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, killed March 4, 2002, while fighting against the Taliban during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. He was posthumously decorated with the nation’s second-highest award for valor, the Air Force Cross.
Owner	Sealift Inc
Acquired	8 April 2005
Identification	IMO number: 7504639 Callsign: V4CK3
Status	Active in service as of 2009
General characteristics
Class and type	Buffalo Soldier class Container Roll-on/Roll-off Logistics Prepositioning Ship
Displacement	26,378 long tons (26,801 t)
Length	670 ft (200 m)
Beam	87 ft (27 m)
Draft	34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Speed	16 kn (30 km/h)
Complement	19 civilian, 0 military

MV TSgt John A. Chapman (T-AK-323) is a Buffalo Soldier-class container ship. She is one of Military Sealift Command's seventeen container and roll-on/roll-off ships and is part of the 36 ships in the Prepositioning Program.

Built in 1978 by Chanters Navigation de la Ciotat in France, she was originally named Merlin. On 8 April 2005, she was renamed for Pope Air Force Base combat controller Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman, a posthumous Air Force Cross recipient. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during the Battle of Takur Ghar.

TSgt John A. Chapman carries Air Force munitions. She features climate-controlled cocoons on her weather decks which protect additional cargo from the marine environment. She is owned and operated by Sealift Incorporated and is under charter to MSC.

See also

• Operation Anaconda

References

1. Gary P. Priolo (13 Sep 2009). "Service Ship Photo Archive". NavSource Online. Retrieved 16 Jan 2010. MV TSgt. John A. Chapman (AK-323) ex MV Merlin (AK-323), MV American Merlin (AK-9302)
2. Becky J. LaRaia; Lisa Terry McKeown (8 April 2005). "Ship takes heroic legacy to the fight". US Air Force. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 15 Jan 2010. SUNNY POINT, N.C. (AFPN) -- A fallen Air Force hero from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., was honored April 8 at the Military Ocean Terminal here. A Navy cargo ship was named for Air Force Cross recipient Tech. Sgt. John Chapman. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
3. Jason A. Neal (13 Jan 2003). "Pope combat controller awarded Air Force Cross". US Air Force. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 15 Jan 2010. POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFPN) -- Senior Air Force leaders awarded the Air Force Cross to Tech. Sgt. John Chapman here Jan. 10. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

• Media related to MV TSgt John A. Chapman (T-AK-323) at Wikimedia Commons

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