During World War II, four separate government agencies controlled sea
transportation. In 1949, the Military Sea Transportation Service
became the single managing agency for the
Department of Defenses's ocean transportation needs. It was renamed Military Sealift Command in 1970.
The Command assumed
responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all
military services as well as for other government agencies.
MSCs' primary mission is to provide ocean transportation of equipment, fuel,
supplies and ammunition to sustain US forces worldwide during peacetime
and in war for as long as operational requirements dictate. During a war,
more than 95% of the equipment and supplies needed to sustain the US
military are carried by sea.
