usns spearhead class

U.S. Southern Command is experiencing a shortage of Navy frigates and Coast Guard cutters available to interdict drug runners due to ship age and budget cuts. [4] At the time, she was scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in early 2012, a delay from the original target of September 2011. The Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) program is a cooperative effort for a high-speed, shallow draft vessel intended for rapid intratheater transport of medium-sized cargo payloads. [10], A EPF is essentially an aluminum twin-hull catamaran shell containing four diesel engines, rudimentary control facilities for up to 40 crewmembers, and 312 airline-style passenger seats, along with an expansive flight deck on the top. [38], In 2014, the USN considered outsourcing the management of the fleet, but concluded that the ships would continue to be manned by civil service mariners. [4], Spearhead was christened on 17 September 2011. USNS Newport is the 12 th Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship to be delivered to the United States Navy – and brings the total number of ships delivered to the Navy by Austal USA to 24 in ten years, including three this year. [12], On 12 June 2014, the Spearhead was conducting routine testing off the coast of Key West. [10], USNS Spearhead, the lead ship in the class, was launched in September 2011, and it is expected to be delivered to the Navy in early 2012. Spearheadis planned for non-combat missions, such as transportation of troops or equipment. [5], The EPF has no weapons or defensive systems to fulfill combat missions, but the Navy is looking to expand its roles to include re-supplying special operations forces and conducting humanitarian assistance missions. The remaining ships which are still in various stages of construction will be upgraded as well. [7], Spearhead is 103 metres (338 ft) long and 28.5 metres (94 ft) in beam, and has a draft of 3.83 metres (12.6 ft). In November 2008, the US Navy placed a $185.4m contract for the detail design and construction of an EPF, with options for up to nine additional ships. It was determined that a design change that Austal recommended to the Navy late in the design phase to save weight has resulted in a weakened bow structure. An HSSV has a crew of 69 personnel with 69 berths, can seat another 250, and has a cargo capacity of 320 tonnes (350 short tons). The passenger room contains reclining seats with overhead televisions and racks for weapons and equipment. It is 72.5 m (238 ft) long and can travel at 35 knots. After delivery, each service will be responsible for manning, maintaining, and providing full lifecycle support for its vessels. [48], In early 2014, Austal announced it had been awarded a $124.9 million contract for two High Speed Support Vessels (HSSV) for a foreign customer, later revealed to be the Royal Navy of Oman. Subscribe to Navy News Service Two additional Spearhead-class EPFs, USNS Newport (EPF 12) and USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13), remain under construction at Austal USA. The Navy awarded Phase One preliminary design contracts in early 2008, and a detail design and construction contract in the 4th Quarter of FY08. [23] The Navy has since decided to mount the experimental railgun on USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5) instead. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ford Williams/Released. [18] Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert has suggested using the ships as a cheaper way to perform counter-piracy missions to free up blue-water combatants. When transporting troops, an EPF has 312 airline-style passenger seats and 146 fixed berths, 104 of which are permanent. ", USNAVSO/US 4th Fleet Statement regarding AEROSTAT, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-14/navy-s-fast-sealift-ships-can-t-stand-buffeting-from-high-seas, "Navy's first joint high-speed vessel christened", List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USNS_Spearhead_(T-EPF-1)&oldid=975068177, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 August 2020, at 15:22. A EPF is essentially an aluminum twin-hull catamaran shell containing four … [26][27], Marine Corps General John M. Paxton, Jr. has called the EPF "a very capable ship" for certain missions, but in consideration for serving as an alternate platform for Marines to use in amphibious operations as substitutes for amphibious assault ships, he claims several deficiencies including ability to operate in difficult sea states, ability to remain survivable in contested waters, a flight deck that cannot handle the heat of an MV-22 Osprey's engines during take-off and landing, lack of a well deck to launch amphibious vehicles at sea, as well as current lack of a "splash capability" where the ramp can allow vehicles to be driven off it into the sea. [35], On 27 February 2012, Austal was awarded construction contracts for EPF-8 and EPF-9. The first five ships in the class will need to be returned to Austal to have upgrades done to improve the superstructure, at a cost of $1.2M each. [5] Spearhead, after delivery to the Navy in early 2012, will undergo sea trials and tests, and in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 is planned to begin operations, homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. On 30 June 2011, Austal was awarded construction contracts for EPF-6 and EPF-7. Alternately, its vehicle decks can be reconfigured in 5 minutes to carry up to 20 large trucks and 90 cars. USNS Spearhead was christened on 17 September 2011. USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5), (formerly JHSV-5), (ex- Resolute) is a Spearhead -class expeditionary fast transport vessel. [21], After various tests to explore the EPF's suitability to perform different missions, the ship was found to perform its primary role of intra-theater transport effectively, but had extreme difficulty in carrying out other suggested missions. The EPF program combines the Army's Theater Support Vessel (TSV) program (dating from 2004) with the Navy and Marine Corps High Speed Connector (HSC) (requirement dating from 2004). The EPF will reach speeds of 35–45 knots (65–83 km/h; 40–52 mph) and will allow for the rapid transit and deployment of conventional or special forces as well as equipment and supplies. [10], The Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships will conduct acquisition for both the Army and Navy, but each service will fund its own ships. This is a list of Military Sealift Command ships.The fleet includes about 130 ships in eight … They will not be permanently installed on the EPF, and the Navy has yet to decide which ship classes will receive a fully operational railgun. [19] Offensive armament and defensive measures against pirates would be handled by a security team on board, and a EPF's speed would also be a good defense against an attack by pirates. [14], Spearhead, as well as other ships of her class, are built to a modular design that allows them to be rapidly refitted with various equipment within a 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) bay depending on the mission at hand. In the early morning, lightning struck an aerostat that was tethered to the vessel. [15] This allows for a maximum speed of 43 knots (49 mph) and a service speed of 35 knots (40 mph). USNS Newport is the 12th Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship to be delivered to the United States Navy – and brings the total number of ships delivered to the Navy by Austal USA to 24 in ten years, including three this year. The USNS Newport (T-EPF-12) is the twelfth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport and is operated by the Military Sealift Command. When deploying a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV), the EPF's stern-mounted crane could launch it in up to sea state 3 conditions, but support surface craft were needed to get divers into the underwater vehicle, which could only be launched in sea state 2.[17]. 151230-N-GP524-109 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Dec. 30, 2015) The Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast-transport vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) departs Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. It even has a flight deck for helicopter operations. [3], Spearhead was launched on 8 September 2011, though she did not enter the water until several days later; her launch was the moving of the vessel from the shed where she was constructed onto a floating drydock. The infrastructure integrates the ship's electronic systems including, internal and external communication, electronic navigation, aviation and armament systems. [13], During operations in 2015, Spearhead experienced bow damage from rough seas requiring more than a half-million dollars (USD) to repair. [9] She made her first deployment to Europe and Africa in early 2014, followed by a trip to Latin America. [7] Spearhead is planned for non-combat missions, such as transportation of troops or equipment. [29], The EPF program combines the Army's Theater Support Vessel (TSV) program (dating from 2004) with the Navy and Marine Corps High Speed Connector (HSC) (requirement dating from 2004). The EPF program received Milestone A approval in May 2006. [10], On 7 March 2014, Spearhead visited Liberia,[11] where Marines conducted a rigid-hulled inflatable boat drill. Spearhead, as well as other ships of her class, are built to a modular design that allows them to be rapidly refitted with various equipment within a 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) bay depending on the mission at hand. At 10 knots in calm sea states, the hull can rock up to four degrees to each side, while conventional ships would roll very little, which would increase if the ship goes faster in rougher conditions, raising the possibility of seasickness. [15] A vessel has 104 permanent berthing spaces. [2], The U.S. 4th Fleet has expressed interest in using the EPF as a low-cost ship for performing drug interdiction missions around Central and South America. The Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport shipbuilding program to provide “a platform intended to support users in the Department of the Navy and Department of the Army. Although it wouldn't be able to conduct the same tasks as a full-size hospital ship, large hospital ships are slow, while the EPF can serve as a quick transit platform for rapid medical response. The EPF has a flight deck for helicopters and a load ramp that will allow vehicles to quickly drive on and off the ship. Alakaiis a 349-foot (106 m) long high-speed roll-on / roll-off (Ro/Ro) passenger and vehicle ferry formerly operated by Hawaii Superferry. The first thr… For the theater support vessel, see, "Keel Laying Ceremony for Spearhead (JHSV 1)", "Keel Laid for First Joint High Speed Vessel", "Austal rolls out first joint high-speed vessel", "US Navy Receives First of 10 Joint High Speed Vessels USNS Spearhead", "Navy's First Joint High-Speed Vessel Christened", "Navy's Newest Ship Is Pickup Truck of the Sea", "Acceptance trials 'clean sweep' by JHSV 1. [37], On 5 April 2013, the EPF program was added to the remit of the Littoral Combat Ship Council, so that the capabilities of both ship types could be considered together. [9], The design is 70 percent in common with the Hawaii Superferry, also built by Austal USA. [49], Austal launched the first HSSV on 31 October 2015 at its Henderson, WA facility. [32], The Navy expected to purchase 23 EPF vessels over 30 years. [28] The EPF has been rejected as an alternative platform to base the MV-22 off of due to weight and the heat it generates being potentially damaging to its flight deck. This page was last modified on 11 January 2016, at 07:50. "[10][11] The vessels are a part of Military Sealift Commands Sealift Program. [6] She will be crewed by civilian mariners (merchant seaman) from the Military Sealift Command, and her first captain was Douglas D. Casavant, Jr.[7], In August 2012 Spearhead made a "clean sweep" of her acceptance trials. [50], From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, High Speed Vessels of the United States Navy, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, "Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs", Civilian-crewed vessels see larger role in amphibious ops, "Austal Delivers Fifth Joint High Speed Vessel", http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141212/DEFREG/312120029/, Low Cost Ship Options for U.S. Navy’s Drug War, Marines conduct crisis response exercise from USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), Joint High-Speed Vessel turns heads during Bold Alligator, Joint High Speed Vessel: Great Potential, But Questions Remain, Joint High Speed Vessels Support Marine Corps Missions, http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/inventory.asp?var=PM5, A New Class of Ship – 'Expeditionary Support', Navy’s Newest Ship Is Pickup Truck of the Sea, Navy explores new roles with first-in-class USNS Spearhead, "DOT&E: JHSV Effective At Intra-Theater Transport But Challenged In Other Missions", "Navy Considers JHSV for Special Operations Missions", "Retiring frigates may leave some missions unfilled", USNS Spearhead returns from maiden deployment, USNS Choctaw County Starts Concept Trial at Naval Weapons Station Cheatham, "General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems to Integrate Ship Mission System for Austal Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV)]", NAVSEA Details At Sea 2016 Railgun Test on JHSV Trenton, "Marines Seek New Tech To Get Ashore Vs. Missiles; Reinventing Amphib Assault", Amos rejects recent critique of amphibious combat vehicle, Future Marine Corps Missions Depend on New Ship-To-Shore Connectors, USMC’s Paxton: Potential Marine Deployments On LCS And JHSV Carry Risks, SNA: Surface Leaders Make the Case for the Modified Littoral Combat Ship, "Objective Theater Support Vessel (OTSV)", "Navy's First Joint High-Speed Vessel Christened", "Unusual ship visits Mayport after 6-month deployment to African waters", "Army Transfers High Speed Vessels to Navy", "Navy Awards Construction Contracts for JHSV 6, 7", "Navy Exercises Tenth JHSV Construction Option", "Military Sealift Command News: CIVMARs To Operate JHSV", http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141212/DEFREG/312120029/Navy-Gains-Ship-15-Growlers-Defense-Bill, "Austal Celebrates Keel Laying for JHSV2 - the "Choctaw County, "Secretary of the Navy Names Joint High Speed Vessel USNS Millinocket", "Future USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3) completes builder's sea trials", "Secretary of the Navy Names Multiple Ships", "Joint High-Speed Vessels May Answer the Changing Logistics Needs of Navies, Finds Frost & Sullivan", Austal contract for two 72m High Speed Support Vessels is for the Royal Navy of Oman, List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy, https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Spearhead-class_expeditionary_fast_transport&oldid=4688729, Articles with dead external links from September 2010, Pages with citations using unsupported parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core. 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