Austal hosts EPF 7 christening ceremony
JANUARY 16, 2016 — Shipbuilder Austal celebrated the christening of Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Carson City (EPF 7) with a ceremony this morning at its Mobile, AL, shipyard. USNS Carson City is
JHSV
Future USNS Brunswick completes Acceptance Trials
The ship, which was constructed by shipbuilder Austal USA, is the sixth in the EPF class. The EPF class ships were formerly known as Joint High Speed Vessels, or JHSVs. In September, the Secretary of the Navy brought in a new E ship class designator that, in addition to seeing the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) become the Expeditionary Fast Transport, or EPF, sees the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) become the Expeditionary Transfer Dock, or ESD; and the Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) variant of the MLP become the Expeditionary Mobile Base, or ESB.
“Conducting Acceptance Trials is a major milestone for the shipyard and the program office,” said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. “We are very proud of our contractor and government team’s commitment to delivering affordable, quality ships and look forward to the delivery of EPF 6 later this year.”
The ship’s trials included dockside testing to clear the ship for sea and rigorous at-sea trials during which the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) evaluated and observed the performance of EPF 6’s major systems.
Completion of Brunswick’s Acceptance Trials signifies that the ship is ready for delivery to the fleet in the near future.
“We’re proud to have successfully completed acceptance trials for USNS Brunswick, and excited to see the continued improvement ship to ship on this mature program,” said Craig Perciavalle, Austal USA’s president. “Austal’s EPF team continues to do a tremendous job constructing incredible ships and preparing them to enter the fleet.”
The Brunswick is the sixth ship in Austal’s 10-ship $1.6 billion EPF block-buy contract awarded by the U.S. Navy in 2008. Three more under construction at Austal’s Mobile, AL, shipyard.
EPFs are versatile, non-combatant, transport ships that will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles, and equipment. EPF is designed to commercial standards, with limited modifications for military use. The vessel is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots, and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading vehicles such as a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank. Other joint requirements include an aviation flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations.
EPF 6 will have airline style seating for 312 embarked forces, with fixed berthing for 104.
The EPF’s large, open mission deck and large habitability spaces provide the opportunity to conduct a wide range of missions.
“We’re excited about the feedback we’re receiving about how well these ships are doing on deployment and about the overall potential of the program,” said Mr. Perciavalle.
In addition to the EPF program, Austal is also building 10 Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) for the U.S. Navy under a $3.5 billion block-buy contract. Three LCS have been delivered while an additional six are in various stages of construction.When it was launched at Austal’s Mobile, AL, shipyard in May EPF 6 was JHSV 6.
Austal USA launches JHSV 6
MAY 20, 2015 — Austal USA’s Mobile, Ala. shipyard yesterday launched its second U.S. Navy ship in less than three months, the Joint High Speed Vessel USNS Brunswick. The 338-foot JHSV will
Austal USA christens JHSV
MAY 9, 2015 — Shipbuilder Austal USA christened USNS Brunswick (JHSV 6) today in a ceremony at its Mobile, AL, shipyard. USNS Brunswick is the sixth of ten Joint High Speed Vessels
Austal christens JHSV 5
JANUARY 12, 2015 — Austal christened USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) Saturday at its Mobile, AL, shipyard. USNS Trenton is the fifth of ten Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) that Austal is building
Austal launches JHSV 5
OCTOBER 1, 2014 — Austal USA yesterday launched JHSV 5, the future USNS Trenton from its shipyard. “The JHSV program is benefitting from serial production,” said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater
Austal lays keel of JHSV 5
MARCH 12, 2014 — Austal USA laid the keel of Trenton (JHSV 5), the fifth of ten Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV), in a ceremony held Tuesday at its Mobile, AL, shipyard.
Austal USA launches JHSV 4
JANUARY 19, 2014 — Austal USA, Mobile, AL, last week successfully launched the USNS Fall River (JHSV 4). The 103 m high speed catamaran was launched in a multi-step process that saw
USNS Fall River christened at Austal USA
JANUARY 13, 2014—Austal USA recently christened USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) at its state-of-the-art shipyard in Mobile, AL. USNS Fall River is the fourth of 10 Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) that
JHSV 1 completes IOT&E test schedule
OCTOBER 11, 2013 — The Navy’s first Joint High Speed Vessel, USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), has successfully completed its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) end-to-end event, NAVSEA announced Oct. 3. U.S.