Navy takes delivery of USNS Hector A Cafferata Jr

The U.S. Navy has taken delivery of USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. (ESB 8), an Expeditionary Sea Base built by General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, on Aug. 25, according to a Navy announcement.

Delivery marks the formal transfer of the ship from the builder to the Navy following trials and inspections, clearing the way for Military Sealift Command to crew and outfit the vessel for operational use. Expeditionary Sea Bases serve as mobile, at-sea staging platforms that can support aviation detachments, special operations, mine countermeasures, and logistics, extending the reach of naval and joint forces without relying on fixed shore infrastructure.

Hector A. Cafferata Jr. is the latest addition to the ESB program, which includes Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), Miguel Keith (ESB 5), John L. Canley (ESB 6), and Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7). The ships feature a large flight deck, mission deck space, and accommodations designed to support a wide array of modular mission packages.

The ship honors Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient Hector A. Cafferata Jr., recognized for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.

General Dynamics NASSCO, the Navy’s longtime builder of the ESB and related expeditionary platforms, constructs the class at its San Diego shipyard. With delivery complete, ESB 8 will transition to Military Sealift Command control, undergo additional post-delivery preparations, and begin integration into fleet operations.