Joint
High Speed Vessel USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) completed the last significant
milestone before delivery of the ship, completing Acceptance Trials
(AT) on July 25, 2014, in the Gulf of Mexico. This milestone achievement
involved the performance of intense comprehensive tests by the Navy
while underway, which demonstrated the operation of the ship's major
systems and equipment. |
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According to Craig Perciavalle, Austal USA's President
"Completing this trial is a credit to Austal's shipbuilders, our
Industry teammates and the U.S. Navy team. We all work together to deliver
a ship that is ready to enter the fleet and these trials proved USNS
Fall River is ready to start her naval service."
"This is our fourth JHSV and the first three are doing great things
for our country and Navy. Less than a year after delivery to the Navy,
they are forward deployed supporting the National Security objectives
of our country," Perciavalle added. Since delivery of USNS Spearhead
(JHSV 1), Joint High Speed Vessels have supported operations in European,
African, Southern and Pacific Command areas of responsibility.
This vessel is the fourth of ten JHSVs that Austal has been contracted
by the Navy to build in its Mobile, Ala. shipyard. The Navy selected
Austal as the prime for this $1.6 billion contract in 2008. Austal's
teaming partner, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (a business
unit of General Dynamics), is the ship systems integrator, responsible
for the design, integration and testing of the navigation and communications
systems, C4I, and aviation systems.
As the U.S. Department of Defense's multi-use platform, the 103-meter
JHSV provides rapid intra-theater deployment/transportation of personnel,
equipment and supplies. The vessel supports military logistics, sustainment
and humanitarian relief operations at speeds of up to 43 knots. The
JHSV transports medium-size operational units with their vehicles, or
reconfigure to provide troop transport for an infantry battalion, allowing
units to transit long distances while maintaining unit integrity. The
vessel also supports helicopter operations and has a slewing vehicle
ramp on the starboard quarter which enables use of austere piers and
quay walls, common in developing countries. A shallow draft (under 4.6
meters) further enhances theater port access.
USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) will soon be followed by Trenton (JHSV 5)
which Austal will launch early in the Fall. Fabrication is well underway
on Brunswick (JHSV 6).
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