The USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) was a combat stores ship

Combat stores ship

Combat stores ships, or Storeships were originally a designation given to captured ships in the Age of Sail and immediately afterward, used to stow supplies and other goods for naval purposes. Modern combat store ships are operated by the United States Navy...

 acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1981. The Spica served the Navy fleet until she was deactivated in 2008.

Built in England

The Spica, originally known as RFA Tarbatness (A345)

RFA Tarbatness (A345)

RFA Tarbatness was a fleet stores ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.In 1981, the ship was bought by the United States Military Sealift Command to serve as USNS Spica ....

was built at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend-On-Tyne, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...

. She was laid down on 1 April 1965 and was launched on 1 February 1967.

Purchased by the U.S. Navy

The Spica was purchased by the U.S. Navy, and was then placed into service as a combat supply ship on 1 November 1981 as the USNS Spica (T-AFS-9), a unit of the Military Sealift Command

Military Sealift Command

The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...

 (MSC), MSC Naval Auxiliary Force.

Mission

The Spica’s mission was to provide underway replenishment

Underway replenishment

Underway replenishment or replenishment at sea is a method of transferring fuel, munitions, and stores from one ship to another while under way.-History:...

 in support of naval forces by providing refrigerated supplies, dry supplies, spare parts, general supplies, fleet freight, mail, and replacement personnel by alongside or by vertical replenishment processes.

Honors and awards

Qualified USS Spica personnel are authorized the following medals:

• Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
  
  
• Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
• Navy Battle Efficiency E Ribbon
• National Defense Service Medal
  National Defense Service Medal
  The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
  
  
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
  The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
  
  
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
  Southwest Asia Service Medal
  The Southwest Asia Service Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service members who performed duty during the years of the Persian Gulf War...
  
  
• Kuwait Liberation Medal
  Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
  The Wisam Al-Tahrir was issued by the government of Kuwait for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.-Description:The Kuwait Liberation Medal was approved by the Kuwait Council of Ministers for award in five classes, generally according to the rank of the recipient...
  
  (Kuwait)