{{short description|Cargo ship of the United States Navy}} {{Distinguish|USS Watson (DD-482)}}
{{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Watson (T-AKR-310).jpg | image_caption = }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = United States | flag = {{USN flag|2008}} | name = USNS ''Watson'' | namesake = George Watson (Medal of Honor) (1914–1943) | ordered = 15 September 1993 | builder = National Steel and Shipbuilding Company | laid_down = 23 May 1996 | launched = 26 July 1997 | acquired = | commissioned = | decommissioned = | in_service = 23 June 1998 | out_of_service = | struck = | reinstated = | identification = *{{IMO Number|9112727}} *{{MMSI Number|368707000}} *Callsign: NHLS | fate = | status = Active in Reduced Operational Status | honours = | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = {{sclass|Watson|vehicle cargo ship}} | displacement = 29,000 tons | length = 950 ft | beam = 106 ft | draught = | draft = 34 ft | propulsion = Gas turbine | speed = | range = | complement = | sensors = | EW = | armament = | armour = | armor = | aircraft = | notes = }} }}
'''USNS ''Watson'' (T-AKR-310)''' is one of Military Sealift Command's nineteen Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off Ships and is part of the 33 ships in the Prepositioning Program. She is the lead ship of her class of vehicle cargo ships.
She was named for Private George Watson, a Medal of Honor recipient.
Laid down on 23 May 1996 and launched on 26 July 1997, ''Watson'' was put into service in the Pacific Ocean on 23 June 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/docs/980630-press27.htm|title=MSC takes delivery of USNS Watson|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref>
''George Watson'' was transferred to the US Maritime Administration on 27 August 2025.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.maritime.dot.gov/sites/marad.dot.gov/files/2025-09/2025_08%20Public%20NDRF%20Inventory.pdf | title=National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory For the Month Ending August 31, 2025 | website=www.maritime.dot.gov}}</ref>
==Notable deployments== {{stack|thumb|U.S. Naval Ship Watson at Honolulu, Hawaii, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022}} In November 2022, ''Watson'' took onboard part of an Army Prepositioned Stock and then went to Hawaii, there delivering more than 500 pieces of equipment, vehicles and containers, in support of its Operation Pathways exercise to be held in Australia in 2023. Unloading was done by soldiers of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, 25th Infantry Division, 599th Transportation Brigade, and 402nd Army Field Support Brigade. It was the first time ''Watson'' had visited Hawaii. The equipment will be inspected to ensure they're not carrying any pollen, animals or other organisms or material that could threaten ecosystems in Australia, before moving there.<ref name="2022-12-05_M">[https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/12/05/army-moving-equipment-across-pacific-training.html Army Moving Equipment Across Pacific for Training], Military.com, 2022-12-05</ref>
==References== <references/>
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}} * {{navsource|09/54/540310}} * [https://www.navysite.de/akr/akr310.htm USNS Watson (T-AKR 310) at navysite.de] * [https://www.marinevesseltraffic.com/vessels/USNS-Watson-(T-AKR-310)/CURRENT-POSITION/9112727/368707000 USNS Watson (T-AKR-310) Current Position NATO WARSHIP at marinevesseltraffic.com] * [https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9112727 GT WATSON Naval/Naval Auxiliary, IMO 9112727 at vesselfinder.com]
{{Watson class vehicle cargo ship}}
{{Naval Vessel Register}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson}} Category:Watson-class vehicle cargo ships Category:Ships built in San Diego Category:1997 ships