[Northern Yankee]

It's a Navy ship for cryin out loud!

You got ammunition? Use it!

All Navy ships patrolling those waters should be armed.

[NavyCanDo]

“It's a Navy ship for cryin out loud!”

As it has been said over and over again on this thread it is a Navy owned ship BUT operated by civilians. USNS not USS. Like someone else said, a merchant ship with a coat of gray paint.