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US Navy HSV 2 Swift Catamaran

HSV 2 Swift is one of US Military Sealift Command's two High- Speed Vessels and is part of the 26 ships in US Military Sealift Command's Prepositioning Program. HSV 2 Swift is capable of maintaining an average speed of 35 knots (65 km/h) or greater, loaded with 500 short tons, consisting of 350 personnel and military equipment. A minimum operating range of 1100 nautical miles (2,037 km) at 35 knots (65 km/h) was required by the contract, as was a minimum transit range of 4000 nautical miles (7,408 km) at an average speed of 20 knots (37 km/h). Furthermore, she is capable of 24 hour operations at slow speeds (3-10 knots) (6-19 km/h) for experimentation with unmanned autonomous vehicles, and to support dedicated and emerging organic mine warfare missions.

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HSV-2 Swift – The Navy’s Proof Of Concept Catamaran

Catamarans have long held a beloved place in Naval tradition. Capable of staying mostly above the water, a catarmaran reduces friction with the water by allowing the water to pass beneath it in channels. When the Navy first came up with the idea of engineering a hybrid naval catamaran, the HSV-2 Swift, they envisioned a military ship able to work on anti-mine operations. Furthermore, the HSV-2 Swift would serve as a useful testing platform for naval technology . In 2008, Australian ship builder Incat produced the first and only modern naval hybrid catamaran. The United States Navy employed the craft for ten years before selling it to the United Arab Emirates for dredging operations.

The acronym “HSV” stands for “High Speed Vessel”. Because a hybrid catamaran would stay above the water, its aluminum hull and light weight made it an ideal platform for helicopters and unmanned aerial and naval vehicles. When it first launched from Norfolk, Virginia in October of 2003, the Navy envisioned a class of warship able to quickly manuever to the front lines and disable mines or launch a wave of UAVs and helicopters into action.

The first of this class of vessel, the HSV-1 Joint Venture, saw action in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The HSV-1 Joint Venture acted as a forward staging platform for U.S. Special Forces and Navy SEALS in the acquisition of Umm Qasr, Iraq, a key shipping port that needed to be taken intact.

As for the HSV-2 Swift, it managed to break records for the fastest transit from the Northern Great Barrier Reef to Booby Island. The Swift averaged 39 knots across the area. It also served as a recovery ship for aircraft. Furthermore, the Swift worked to great effect in disaster relief from the 2005 tsunami in Northern Sumatra.

Despite a decent record of service, this particular style of hybrid catamaran was sold off by the U.S. Navy in favor of a new Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport. The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport was a heavier catamaran craft capable of launching more airborne and sea vehicles. The USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) launched in 2011 just in time for the HSV-2 Swift to be decommissioned and sold off to the United Arab Emirates in 2013.

The HSV-2 Swift was never meant as a combat ship. Its armament was purely defensive with only four emplacements for manned .50 caliber machine guns. Of a crew of 35, the majority of the focus of the ship’s activities was centered on logistics and recovery of downed aircraft at sea. It could hold up to 107 people with additional berthing available for another 35, making it an ideal place for a temporary command and control center.

Combat Damage off Yemen:

After being acquired by the United Arab Emirates in 2013, ostensibly for non-militarized dredging operations, it was invariably struck by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Undoubtedly, it was acting as a forward naval operating base for Saudi-backed forces in the area and was thus designated a target. On October 1, 2016, multiple news sources reported that the HSV-2 Swift, while under lease to the United Arab Emirates, was struck by a missile. It was located off-shore from the port city of Mokha, Yemen.

The ship sustained heavy damage, including the loss of crew. The type of missile fired is still unknown. According to news sources from the area, the HSV-2 Swift was towed back to friendly waters to be refitted and repaired.

Powerplant:

Caterpillar 3618 marine diesel engines powered the HSV-2 Swift. Each Caterpillar 3618 engine produces up to 9,655 hp (7198.77 kw).

See HSV-2 Swift Specifications

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Spearhead Class Expeditionary Fast Transport Vessels

Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ships are built by Austal USA as part of the EPF programme initiated by the US Navy.

Military Sealift Command (MSC)

Displacement

Maximum speed.

Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ships, previously known as Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV), are being built by Austal USA as part of the EPF programme initiated by the US Navy.

Operated by the Military Sealift Command, the EPF vessels support joint or coalition force operations of the army and navy.

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The main roles of the vessels are the transportation of troops, military vehicles, cargo and equipment for a range of global missions. They will also support military logistics and humanitarian relief operations.

Development and construction of the JHSV

The preliminary design contract for the EPF programme was awarded in February 2008. The programme initially called for five EPF vessels to be delivered to the army, as well as five to the Navy and Marine Corps.

In November 2008, the US Navy placed a $185.4m contract for the detailed design and construction of an EPF, with options for up to nine additional ships. The initial critical design review (ICDR) was completed by May 2009.

The first three vessels were named Spearhead T-EPF 1 (ex-JHSV 1), Vigilant (T-EPF 2) and Fortitude (T-EPF 3) in July 2009. Construction of Vigilant and Fortitude was authorised by the US Navy in January 2010.

The keel for the first ship in the class, USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1), was laid at Austal’s shipyard at Mobile, Alabama, in July 2010. It was launched and christened as USNS Spearhead in September 2011. The ship successfully completed acceptance trials in September 2012 and was formally handed over to the US Navy in December 2012. The US Navy concluded initial operational testing and evaluation of T-EPF 1 in October 2013.

Construction of USNS Choctaw County (T-EPF-2) (ex-Vigilant) began in September 2010. In May 2011, the US Army transferred all five of its EPFs to the Navy. The T-EPF 2 was christened as USNS Choctaw County in September 2012 and launched in October 2012. The keel for the third EPF (now, Millinocket) was laid down in May 2012, and the vessel was launched in June 2013. Deliveries of the second and third EPFs took place in June 2013 and March 2014, respectively. The USNS Millinocket (T-EPF-3) participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014.

The keel-laying of the fourth EPF, Fall River, was held in May 2013, and the ship was launched in January 2014. Acceptance trials were completed in July 2014, and the vessel was delivered to the US Navy in September 2014. The keel for the fifth ship in the class, USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5) (ex-JHSV 5), was laid in March 2014, and the vessel was launched in September 2014. It was delivered to the US Navy in April 2015.

The US Navy exercised contract options for the construction of the sixth and seventh ships in July 2011. Construction of the sixth vessel, named USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) (ex-JHSV 6), commenced in January 2014, and the keel was laid in December 2014. The vessel was launched in May 2015 and delivered in January 2016. Construction on the seventh EPF, named Carson City, began in September 2014.

The keel of USNS Carson City (T-EPF-7) was laid in July 2015. The ship was launched in January 2016 and delivered in June of the same year.

The contract options for the construction of eighth and ninth EPFs were exercised in February 2012. The US Navy exercised the $166.9m contract option for the final vessel of the ten-ship programme in December 2012.

The eighth EPF, USNS Yuma, was launched in September 2016 and delivered in April 2017. The keel for USNS Bismarck (T-EPF-9) was laid in January 2017, and the vessel was launched in June 2017.

Austal USA was awarded a $326m contract by the US Navy to construct EPF 11 and EPF 12 in September 2016.

Joint High Speed Vessel design features

The EPF features rounded bilge and bulbous bow hull forms made of aluminium. The catamaran vessel is built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards. On-board systems comply with the commercial ABS steel vessel regulations.

The ship does not feature combat systems or the ability to support or use LCS mission modules. EPF is based on commercial technology but includes limited military features, such as aviation, C4SI and fire-fighting.

The vessel has a length of 103m, beam of 28.5m and draft of 3.8m. The displacement of the ship is 2,362t.

The open unobstructed mission deck has a usable cargo area of more than 1,800m² with a clear height of 4.7m and turning diameter of 26.2m.

Performance and power of the US Navy ships

EPF can be operated in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on / roll-off discharge facilities and on / off-loading. The stern loading ramp can support an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank.

The ships can transport 635t of payload for more than 1,200nm at an average speed of 35k. EPF is manned by the civilian mariners provided by the Military Sealift Command. The vessel has a crew of approximately 42 people.

Aircraft capabilities of Austal USA’s JHSV

The EPF features a Navair level 1 class 2 certified flight deck to support the operations of one helicopter, such as a  CH-53E  Super Stallion.

The ship is equipped with a centreline parking area for one helicopter, vertical replenishment area and helicopter control station.

Kongsberg Maritime was contracted to supply the EPF’s helicopter operations surveillance system (HOSS).

Operated from the control room, the HOSS system allows helicopter operations in very low light conditions.

The system integrates a MIL-S-901D shock qualified 19in SXGA LCD monitor suitable for night vision device (NVD) operations.

JHSV propulsion and crew accommodation

EPF is powered by four MTU 20V8000 M71L diesel engines driving four Wartsila WLD 1400 SR waterjets with four ZF 60000NR2H reduction gears. Each engine rated at 9.1MW provides a maximum speed of 43k without payload. The propulsion system delivers superior fuel efficiency to reduce operating costs.

The ship provides accommodation for 42 crew members in two single staterooms, six double staterooms and seven four-bed staterooms. There is airline-style seating for more than 312 embarked forces, as well as permanent berths for approximately 104 personnel and temporary berths for 46 troops.

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Navy Wants To Sideline Its Fast Transport Catamarans As Pacific Fight Looms

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 4, 2023 5:48 PM EDT

12 minute read

Members of Congress are trying to block the Navy from putting just under half of its fleet of Spearhead class expeditionary fast transports into a state of reduced readiness with only skeleton crews assigned to them. Some of the vessels in question are very young, with one having first entered service just three years ago. This comes as the U.S. military is coming to terms with massive logistical hurdles if it were to go to war in the Pacific, which these fast, low-draft, multi-purpose vessels seem to be ideally suited for.

Because of this glaring disconnect, lawmakers are also pushing for a legal requirement for the service to develop and implement a formal concept of operations for utilizing these catamaran transport vessels in the Pacific.

Provisions relating to the Spearhead class ships are contained in the version of the annual defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), for Fiscal Year 2024 that the House of Representatives passed in July . The Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA that the Senate passed last month does not include any such language relating to these vessels, and the two chambers are now in the process of trying to reconcile their bills.

If the language found in the House bill makes it into the final NDAA for Fiscal Year 2024, and is then signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Navy would be prevented from using any funds to place Spearheads on so-called Reduced Operating Status (ROS). The service would also be required to “develop and implement a strategy and concept of operations for the use of expeditionary fast transport vessels in support of operational plans in the area of operations of United States Indo-Pacific Command” within 180 days of the law’s passage. The Chief of Naval Operations would have 30 days to “submit to the congressional defense committees a report describing such [a] strategy and concept of operations.”

In its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 , the Navy outlined plans to transition five Spearheads – USNS Choctaw County , USNS Trenton , USNS Carson City , USNS Yuma , and USNS Newport – to ROS. The service says doing so would save it just under $17.6 million, which it could then redirect to other priorities. The oldest of these ships, USNS Choctaw County , entered service in 2013. The youngest of them, USNS Newport , was commissioned in 2020.

The Navy has already placed two Spearhead class ships, the USNS Spearhead and USNS Fall River , on ROS. The service has different tiers of ROS, but they all involve truncating a ship’s assigned crew and reducing its readiness state. Officially, the Navy categorizes any ship on ROS that is capable of being reactivated within 45 days or less as inactive, but still on the rolls. Spearhead and Fall River are both reportedly being kept on so-called “ROS 45” status, the lowest level of ‘inactive’ readiness.

So, at least on paper, the Navy currently has 13 Spearhead class ships, also known by the abbreviation EPF. The first of these were commissioned in 2012. The latest of these ships, the USNS Apalachicola , just entered service in February of this year.

Leveraging its experience with commercial high-speed ferry designs, Australian shipbuilder Austal’s U.S. subsidiary developed and built the Spearhead class ships , which typically have a crew of around 42 people. These aluminum-hulled vessels displace around 2,362 tons, can cruise at around 35 knots, have a top speed of some 43 knots, and are designed to be readily reconfigurable to the mission at hand. Each one has a multi-purpose 20,000 square-foot mission bay, as well as a rear flight deck able to accommodate various helicopters and a stern ramp for loading and unloading vehicles, personnel, and cargo.

Austal USA is in the process of building two additional Flight II Spearheads for the Navy and the service has a third one on order now. These Spearhead subvariants will have expanded medical capabilities and strengthened flight decks able to allow Osprey tilt-rotors to take off and land. The Navy is also looking to acquire a trio of Bethesda class expeditionary medical ships , a dedicated medical vessel variant derived from the Flight II Spearhead .

With all this in mind, it might seem odd that the Navy is now looking to significantly scale back its use of the Spearheads , which are currently assigned to its Military Sealift Command and are crewed by civilian mariners. However, the service’s current plans for ships very much speak to their somewhat obtuse history and long-building uncertainty about their role and mission.

Officially, the current mission of the Spearhead class ships is to “provide high-speed, agile lift capability to deliver operationally ready units to small, austere ports and flexibly support a wide range of missions including humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, theater security cooperation, maritime domain awareness, and noncombatant evacuations,” according to the Navy . “They enable the rapid transit and deployment of conventional and special forces, equipment, and supplies in support of maneuver and sustainment operations.”

Originally known as Joint High-Speed Vessels (JHSV), the Spearhead class was a product of U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps requirements dating back to the early 2000s. Initially, there was an expectation that some of these ships would be operated by the Army itself as part of its obscure, but actually quite capable watercraft fleet, which you can read more about here .

In the 2000s, the Navy also chartered a number of commercial catamaran ferries to explore the potential utility of vessels like this in various combat and non-combat contexts, largely in support of the JHSV program. In 2012, the service also received two other Austal-designed ferries from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). Both of those ships, referred to as High-Speed Transports (HST), remain in inventory, though one has been on loan to a commercial ferry operator in Canada since 2016.

Over the past two decades or so, the Spearheads and their immediate predecessors have certainly demonstrated the ability to perform a wide array of missions. For instance, two of the earlier chartered catamaran ferries, known during their time in Navy service as the Joint Venture and Swift , were used in particularly novel roles, including as small special operations seabase ships and at sea-based launch platforms for tethered surveillance blimps.

The Spearhead class ships have also been explored as special operations support platforms, as well as floating forward-deployed repair facilities for smaller warships like Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). There has been talk in the past about potentially fitting these ships with more robust weapons. The Navy at one time planned to at least use one of the ships to test its now-defunct electromagnetic railgun . Austal has previously shown concept art of an uncrewed Spearhead derivative with arrays of vertical launch system cells for firing various kinds of missiles, too.

However, the Spearheads have still not seen significant integration into routine day-to-day Navy operations in the past decade and they have generally been used just as transports. The use of the USNS Millinocket recently to bring materiel to Australia in support of the Talisman Sabre 23 exercise reflects how these ships are generally employed at present.

As a prime example of apparent Navy disinterest in more novel applications of these ships, the recently delivered USNS Apalachicola has a full suite of systems to enable crew-optional operations, but the service has no current plans to make use of those capabilities. You can read more about this particular ship and its unique features here .

“I think one step at a time. In terms of that ship, it has the capability but we will integrate into fleet in a very deliberate manner,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday told reporters at the WEST 2023 conference in February, according to USNI News . “We won’t have a deployment and unmanned and an unmanned deployment right off the bat.”

There are certainly questions about the value of a commercial ferry-derived design in a future high-end conflict, such as one in the Pacific against China. Scenarios like this are dominating planning discussions across the U.S. military at present.

The potential vulnerability of ships like the Spearhead class was highlighted in 2016, one of the catamaran ferries the Navy had previously chartered, the ex- Swift , was destroyed by an anti-ship missile off the coast of Yemen. The vessel was in service with the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates at the time and was supporting operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. What was left of the ship was subsequently towed to a port in Greece, where the hulk remains.

The former HSV-2 Swift, laid up at Ampelakia, Salamina, Greece. In July 2015, the ship was leased by the #UAE National Marine Dredging Company & was used to carry aid through Bab Al Mandab strait. On 1 Oct 2016, the ship was attacked and damaged off the coast of Yemen by Houthis. pic.twitter.com/s5UVeg4bUF — Naval Analyses (@D__Mitch) April 26, 2021

At the same time, even in the broader context of a larger-scale conflict, Spearhead class ships could still provide valuable intratheater sealift capacity in lower-threat environments or under a protective umbrella provided by other assets. This could also then help free up more robust sealift ships for use elsewhere.

In addition, the ability of the Spearhead class ships to be relatively rapidly reconfigured for different mission sets gives them additional flexibility. This could potentially include providing additional ‘magazine depth’ for kinetic strikes missions through the installation of modular weapon systems or the positioning of existing mobile launch systems on its stern flight deck, with targeting data fed in from offboard sources.

The video below shows a U.S. Marine Corps M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher being fired from the flight deck of a San Antonio class amphibious warfare ship.

Furthermore, the Navy itself has clearly identified the core Spearhead class design as a useful way of augmenting critical expeditionary medical capabilities.

All of this also comes amidst concerns that have been building for years now about the Navy’s overall sealift capacity and its ability to surge additional assets , including ones held in various states of reduced readiness, in the event of a major conflict or contingency. Beyond that, the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the Army , continue to have their specific requirements for lower-tier intratheater sealift support for combat and non-combat missions, particularly in the Pacific .

Just in the past few years, the U.S. Marine Corps has identified an all-new requirement for dozens of additional middle-tier transport vessels specifically to support its new expeditionary and distributed concepts of operation. The Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO) concept centers heavily on the ability of Marine contingents to rapidly deploy to remote or austere locations , including in maritime and littoral environments , and then just as quickly redeploy elsewhere as required to reduce their vulnerability and otherwise make it difficult to opponents to respond effectively.

Spearhead class ships have been used to support counter-narcotics operations and to help shuttle U.S. military units around for various types of training exercises and other regional engagement activities in Latin America. They could provide a similarly useful ‘presence’ in the Pacific region.

Altogether, it is very hard to see the Spearheads as being anything else but well-suited to meeting a host of needs the U.S. military has when it comes to the Pacific region, both in peacetime and in war. The ships are, on average, relatively young, and have limited crew requirements to begin with, too.

The potential cost savings from putting a significant number of Spearheads on ROS look to be small in the context of the overall U.S. defense budget. As of 2021, the Pentagon pegged the annual operating cost of a single one of these ships at around $20.3 million , which is relatively cheap by naval vessel standards . Beyond that, as already noted, the Navy says it stands to free up less than $20 million in Fiscal Year 2024 by putting five of these ships into a state of reduced readiness.

This all helps explain why the House, in its version of the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA, wants to compel the Navy to look deeply into the Spearhead class’s roles and missions, with a particular eye toward future operations in the Pacific, in addition to preventing the service from placing any more of those ships on ROS. Whether that language makes it into the final reconciled NDAA, and if that bill is then signed into law by President Biden, remains to be seen.

Whatever ultimately happens on the legislative front could have significant ramifications for the future of the Navy’s Spearhead class ships.

Contact the author: [email protected]

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HSV-2 Swift

Catamaran experimental navy craft, united states | 2003, "the hsv-2 swift is being used by the united states navy to develop their future littoral combat ship doctrine.".

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USNS Brunswick is back in the US after seven years in the West Pacific

The expeditionary fast transport ship Brunswick completed a home port shift to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia, on Saturday.

The Military Sealift Command ship had been forward-deployed to the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana islands, northeast of Guam, since 2017, and supported operations in the Navy’s 3rd, 5th and 7th fleets.

In its time overseas, the ship and its civilian crew logged more than 21,600 nautical miles supporting a variety of Navy, relief and other multinational missions, according to the command.

It also circumnavigated the globe, a first for a ship in its class.

U.S. troops regularly embark on such ships and the vessels can transport cargo, equipment and people fast, the command said.

The 338-foot-long catamaran ship class also conducts specialized missions, pre-positions combat supplies at sea and can pull into degraded or damaged ports as needed.

Last year, Brunswick played a key role in evacuating 836 people from the Port of Sudan to Saudi Arabia in support of the U.S. government’s evacuation of Sudan during the civil war there.

Geoff is the managing editor of Military Times, but he still loves writing stories. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at [email protected].

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Austal USA Delivers 12th Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship to U.S. Navy

Austal limited is pleased to announce that usns newport (epf 12) has been delivered to the united states navy from austal usa's state-of-the-art shipyard in mobile, alabama..

Xavier Vavasseur 03 Sep 2020

Austal USA press release

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.

Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the delivery of EPF 12 by Austal USA further strengthens the status of its Mobile, Alabama shipyard as an industry-leading facility.

“Austal USA has now delivered 24 ships to the US Navy, in just over ten years, including three in this year alone. This is a remarkable achievement and testament to the productivity and efficiency of the shipyard, which is now expanding to enable the shipbuilding and support of steel vessels,” Mr Singleton said.

“The ongoing, successful delivery of both the Spearhead -class EPF and Independence -class LCS shipbuilding programs has positioned the Austal USA shipyard to pursue new aluminium and steel shipbuilding opportunities in the future.”

The Spearhead -class EPF is a 103-metre high-speed aluminium catamaran with a large, 1800 square metre cargo deck, medium-lift helicopter deck and seating for 300+ embarked troops; providing a fast, high-payload transport capability to combatant commanders around the world.

The Austal-designed EPFs support a wide range of missions – from maritime security operations to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. An EPF’s flexibility also allows it to support potential future missions; such as special operations, command and control, and primary medical operations.

One additional Spearhead -class EPF is under construction at Austal USA’s shipyard; the future USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13), while the future USNS Cody (EPF 14) is scheduled to commence construction before the end of the year.

In addition to the EPF program, Austal USA is contracted to deliver 19 Independence -class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) for the U.S. Navy. Twelve Independence -class LCSs have been delivered, with an additional five ships in various stages of construction and two contracted but yet to start.

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Austal USA delivers EPF-13; the US Navy's largest surface vessel with autonomous capability

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

20 FEBRUARY 2023

Austal USA delivers EPF-13; the US Navy's Largest Surface Ship with Autonomous Capability

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX: ASB) is pleased to announce Austal USA has delivered Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) to the United States Navy; the largest surface ship in the fleet with autonomous capability.

Building upon the highly automated hull, mechanical & electrical systems already installed on the Spearhead -class Expeditionary Fast Transport ships, designed by Austal Australia, the Austal USA team (in partnership with L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems) added automated maintenance, health monitoring, and mission readiness to provide EPF 13 with the capability to conduct up to 30 days of operation without human intervention.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the delivery of EPF13 was a real game changer for both the US Navy and broader naval shipbuilding industry - demonstrating a capability to integrate autonomous technology into proven hull designs and create effective unmanned surface vessels.

“It’s very exciting to see this advanced autonomous technology from our partners at L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems working so well in our proven Austal hull design; to become what is now the US Navy’s largest surface ship with autonomous capability,” Mr Gregg said,

“EPF13 can operate for up to 30 days without human intervention, which opens up so many opportunities for unmanned missions in various operations, as an autonomous prototype.”

Fundamental to the autonomy effort was Austal USA’s highly automated in-house designed machinery control system (MCS), which allows the ship to be minimally manned by centralising machinery operations to the bridge. All Spearhead -class EPFs built to date incorporate the Austal USA MCS design, which is secure, scalable, distributive, and reconfigurable for multiple propulsion configurations.

EPF 13 went to sea five times over several months in 2022-23, allowing Austal USA and industry partners L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems, to test and analyze not only its typical ship systems, but also the systems resulting from the autonomous design and construction contract modifications required by the US Navy to establish EPF 13 as an autonomous prototype. 

Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh said: “Austal USA is proud to deliver this ship to our Navy – it’s innovative and is going to be a critical asset as unmanned capabilities continue to push boundaries and redefine how missions are achieved. A lot of capability is being delivered to our warfighters with this ship and I’m incredibly proud of our team of shipbuilders.”

EPF 13 is the first Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel to be delivered to the Navy with enhanced capabilities to support V-22 flight operations and launch and recover 11 metre RHIBs. These upgrades, along with EPF’s proven high-speed, maneuverability and shallow water access are key enablers for support of future United States Navy Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations around the world.

Autonomous vessel capability has been identified as an area of strategic importance by the US Navy. Austal USA is working to advance autonomous capability and is partnered with L3Harris on the MCS upgrade of Overlord vessel, Mariner (OUSV 3), and construction of Vanguard (OUSV 4), and with Saildrone, Inc. on the manufacture of Surveyor unmanned surface vehicles. Combined with investments from academia in uncrewed technology, south Alabama is quickly becoming the epicenter of autonomous naval architecture.

This ASX announcement has been approved and authorised for release by Paddy Gregg, Austal Limited’s Chief Executive Officer.

Austal USA has delivered the EPF-13, the first Expeditionary Fast Transport and largest surface ship with autonomous capability in the United States Navy. (Photo: Austal USA)

Media Contact:

Cameron Morse

+61 433 886 871

[email protected]

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Appledore shipbuilder left at 'mercy of market' as government refuses to bailout firm

The Government has decided not to provide financial support to the troubled Belfast shipbuilder Harland & Wolff, which operates Appledore shipyard in North Devon

• 10:18, 21 AUG 2024

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The market is "best placed" to deal with financial difficulties faced by Harland & Wolff, the Prime Minister has said.

The Government has decided not to offer financial support to the troubled Belfast shipbuilder, which operates Appledore shipyard, over concerns of losing public money.

The company, which is part of a consortium that landed a major contract to build new Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Navy, had applied for a £200 million loan guarantee from the Government as part of efforts to restructure its finances.

However, the Government decided not to act as a guarantor on the lending while also ruling out direct funding to maintain the company's liquidity. The firm has said it will seek alternative new debt facilities.

Speaking to reporters in Belfast this week, Sir Keir Starmer said the decision will be kept "under close review".

The Prime Minister said: "We've obviously looked at that very carefully, the Business Secretary has made a decision about it. Of course, we will keep that under close review.

"We do think the market is best placed to deal with the current situation," he added, "but we'll keep it under review because the work particularly in the defence realm is very, very important to us."

Harland & Wolff, which famously built the Titanic, has four sites one in Belfast, two in Scotland (Methil, on the Firth of Forth, and Arnish, on the Isle of Lewis), and one in England (Appledore, in north Devon ).

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Harland & Wolff had planned to launch a new ferry service between mainland Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly this year, but the project was scrapped at the start of this month, even though its new ferry vessel was moored at Newlyn Harbour.

Scilly Ferries and its bright yellow and black catamaran, Atlantic Wolff, was due to begin business this summer, after a series of delays, but the ferry never set sail for the islands after Harland & Wolff announced it would refocus on its core business.

Harland & Wolff's interim executive chairman, Russell Downs said earlier this month: "It is with great sadness that we announce that Scilly Ferries, including the Atlantic Wolff fast ferry, has ceased operations. The decision has been made because of the need for Harland & Wolff to refocus on its core business activities.

"As the company's new board assesses all aspects of the group's functions, the ferry operation was identified as being overly ambitious, given current circumstances."

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