The USNS Harvey Milk is a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler, designed to support carrier strike groups at sea. The class of ships is named after civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis ...

The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who said at the time that the John Lewis-class of oilers would be named after leaders who fought for civil and human rights.

The U.S. Navy launches the USNS Harvey Milk, a fleet replenishment oiler ship named after the first openly gay elected official, in San Diego, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

The USNS Harvey Milk is part of a fleet of replenishment oilers named after civil rights advocates including Chief Justice Earl Warren and US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

Milk was portrayed by Sean Penn in the 2008 film “Milk,” for which Penn won an Academy Award. The USNS Harvey Milk is a 2021 vessel designed to support other ships at sea.

The USNS Harvey Milk was originally named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who said the John Lewis-class oilers would honor leaders in civil and human rights.

The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who said at the time that the John Lewis-class of oilers would be named after leaders who fought for civil and human rights.

The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk conducts a replenishment at sea in the Atlantic Ocean in December 2024 (U.S. Navy/AP) ...