By Ronald O’Rourke Specialist in Naval Affairs, Congressional Research Service. March 15, 2016
The John Lewis (TAO-205) class oiler shipbuilding program, previously known as the TAO(X) program,is a program to build a new class of 17 fleet oilers for the Navy. The primary role of Navy fleet oilers is to transfer fuel to Navy surface ships that are operating at sea, so as to extend the operating endurance of these surface ships and their embarked aircraft.
