Austal USA, the American subsidiary of Australian Austal, is currently building Spearhead Project Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) for the US Navy. The existing order has been completed by more than two-thirds, and work on it continues. Another 12th vessel was launched the other day. In the coming months, the USNS Newport (T-EPF-12) will undergo tests and go into service.
Board number "12"
The construction of EPF ships takes about 10 years. During this time, the Austal USA shipyard (Mobile, Alabama) managed to work out all the necessary technologies and set up a real conveyor production. All construction and testing work is being carried out in full accordance with a schedule that sets a very high pace.
Thus, the contract for the construction of the future ship "Newport" was signed on September 16, 2016. The laying took place much later, on January 29, 2019. Construction lasted less than 13 months and has now been completed. On February 21, 2020, shipbuilders began launching the vessel. Due to the specifics of production facilities and water area, such events include several sequential actions and take about two days.
Launching began with the withdrawal of the vessel from the assembly shop. Using special conveyors, the finished product was brought onto a barge and delivered to a dry dock. The launching itself took place due to the immersion of the dock. After that, the transport was towed to the quay wall. Such procedures are carried out regularly and not only within the framework of the EPF program, due to which they are well developed.
In the near future, Austal USA will be engaged in sea trials of the new vessel. Upon completion, USNS Newport (T-EPF-12) is expected to be handed over to the customer. All events will take several months. The customer will receive a new vehicle by the end of this year.
Previous and next
Austal USA received an order from the US Navy for the development and construction of the Joint High Speed Vessel or JHSV (EPF designation was introduced later) in 2008. The contract initially included the construction of one vessel with an option for nine. The lead sample confirmed its characteristics, thanks to which new contracts appeared. Thus, by the end of 2010, Austal USA had firm orders for three vessels. Another seven were negotiated by other agreements and options.
In 2011, the Navy adjusted its plans. Now, for the needs of the fleet, it was proposed to order about 20 ships with delivery during the tenth and twenties. However, such plans were soon abandoned, and the series was limited to a dozen ships. The last EPF construction contracts under these plans were signed in 2012.
However, new discussions soon began, the result of which was the expansion of the series. In September 2016, Austal USA received an order for the 11th and 12th EPF vessels. In October and December 2018, two new agreements were signed to prepare for further construction. In March 2019, two more vehicles were officially ordered.
It is possible that new orders will appear in the near future, but even without them, the Austal USA plant has enough work. Right now, his task is to test the USNS Newport (T-EPF-12), build the next USNS Apalachicola (T-EPF-13) and prepare for the USNS Cody (T-EPF-14).
Rapid construction
Austal USA has extensive experience in the construction of catamarans of different classes, and it was used in the development of a promising transport for the US Navy. The design of the Spearhead-class ships is based on proven solutions, and also includes some borrowed units. All of this simplified the design process and also reduced the complexity and cost of production.
The lead vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) was laid down in July 2010 and launched in September 2011. The testing process dragged on for more than a year, but in December 2012 the ship was handed over to the customer. Completion of work on the lead vessel allowed the construction of the first serial vessel to begin - it was laid down in November 2011 and launched in October 2012 with some delay in relation to the original plans. By that time, since May, the third ship was already under construction.
EPF ships are relatively large in size, which is why they are assembled in only one slipway position of the plant. As a result, only one such order can be built at a time. Quite quickly, the company managed to establish a production cycle that ensures the fulfillment of all tasks. The construction of one transport takes from several months to a year. Then they spend several months preparing for construction and carry out a new laying.
To date, 12 ships have already been built according to this scheme. Another high-speed transport is currently under construction. The last EPF ordered will be laid this year. Two vessels will be completed by 2021 and will be handed over to the customer in a few months after that.
It should be noted that the construction of ships at a high rate is facing some challenges. So, in 2011, an accident occurred, as a result of which a large structural block of the USNS Choctaw County (T-EPF-2) was damaged. This incident had a negative impact on the timing of construction and delivery.
Serious problems manifested themselves in 2015. The lead transport USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) returned from another cruise with damage to the bow of the hulls. The reason for this was the lack of structural strength, due to errors in the design of lightweight units. As a result of these events, it was necessary to repair and modernize five built vessels and make changes to the design of those under construction.
Marine transport
High-speed expeditionary transport vessels EPF / Spearhead-class are intended for the rapid transfer of people and equipment by sea over long distances. The design of the vessels is optimized for solving such problems - they are able to take on board approx. 550 tons of cargo and carry it for 1200 nautical miles, developing speeds up to 40-43 knots.
The EPF is an aluminum catamaran with a length of 103 meters and a displacement of 1,500 tons. The power plant includes four diesel engines that propel water cannons. The main part of the internal volume of the hull is given for placing the payload - for this, residential and non-residential compartments are provided.
To transport people, EPF has several cabins, which can be equipped with passenger seats (312 pieces) or bunks (104 pieces). The duration of the voyage, taking into account the ship's reserves, is limited to 4 or 14 days, respectively. Own transport crew consists of 41 people.
A deck with an area of 1900 square meters is intended for equipment and other cargo. Loading is done with its own crane at the stern; the equipment is driven under its own power along a folding ramp. The presence of such systems allows loading and unloading independently, which reduces the requirements for the port equipment.
The vessel is capable of carrying a helicopter. A take-off platform is equipped on the deck. There is also a place for transporting a helicopter. The operation of all machines of this class available to the Navy is ensured. At the same time, EPFs cannot carry MV-22 tiltroplanes - the exhaust of their engines can damage the deck.
Multipurpose fleet
The main task of the Spearhead / EPF is to transport battalions along with their weapons and equipment. It is also possible to use ships in other transport or humanitarian operations. In particular, they worked out the deployment of a mobile hospital directly on the cargo deck. EPFs have a high potential, an important component of which is their high travel speed.
It should be noted that EPFs are not the largest or largest transport vessels in the US Navy's possession. However, the limited capacity is offset by other characteristics. Spearheads are capable of delivering a combat-ready unit to the theater of operations faster than other transport or landing ships.
The capabilities and capabilities of EPF vessels have been repeatedly proven in a variety of exercises and other events. Success in the operation of the first vessels of the series contributed to the emergence of new orders. It is because of this that the initial series of 10 vessels was expanded to 14. Thus, the US Navy can now employ a dozen high-speed transports at the same time, and in the coming years, such opportunities will increase due to new pennants. This year the fleet will receive the 12th transport of a new type, recently launched. And two more will follow.
