USNS Spica (T-AFS-9)
USNS "Spica" (T-AFS-9), was a combat stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy from the United Kingdom in 1981. She participated in Operation Fiery Vigil to evacuate Clark Air Base personnel following the Mount Pinatubo Eruption in 1991. She served as part of the Military Sealift Command until she was deactivated in 2008. Before her U.S. Navy career, "Spica" served the United Kingdom's Royal Fleet Auxiliary as RFA "Tarbatness" (A345). Built in England. RFA "Tarbatness" (A345) was built at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend-On-Tyne, England, for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She  was laid down on 1 April 1965 and was launched on 1 February 1967. Purchased by the U.S. Navy. "Spica" was purchased by the U.S. Navy and placed into non-commissioned service as a combat stores ship on 1 November 1981 as the USNS "Spica" (T-AFS-9), a unit of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Naval Auxiliary Force Atlantic. Mission. "Spica’s" mission was to provide underway replenishment 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. "Spica   was authorized the following awards: Disposal. Spica" was inactivated on 26 January 2008 and turned over to the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for disposal. She was sunk as a target on 6 May 2009.