AUSTAL JHSV

Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF)

The US Navy’s Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF) program is procuring 12 high-speed transport vessels from Austal for the fast, intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment with aviation support.

This customised, non-combatant vessel, designed in Australia and constructed in the USA, leverages Austal’s world-leading commercial passenger vessel design technology to deliver a unique platform that is redefining naval capability. Significant production and financial risks have been avoided by implementing proven technology, ensuring stable requirements, minimizing change and through the relentless pursuit of cost reduction and efficiency. The vessels are being built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) High Speed Naval Craft Guide.

The 103 metre T-EPF is capable of transporting 600 short tons up to 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. The ships can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-load a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2).

The EPF includes a flight deck for helicopter operations and an off-load ramp that allows vehicles to quickly drive off the ship. The ramp is suitable for the types of austere piers and quay walls common in developing countries. EPF’s shallow draft further enhances littoral operations and port access. This makes the EPF an extremely flexible asset for support of a wide range of military and other (humanitarian and disaster relief) operations to small or damaged ports.

EPFs have a core crew of 21 people, with airline style seating for more than 312 embarked forces and fixed berthing for 146.

US Military Sealift Command (MSC) operates and sustains the 12 x EPFs ordered by the US Navy, including;

USNS Speahead (T-EPF-1)
USNS Choctaw County (T-EPF-2)
USNS Millinocket (T-EPF-3)
USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4)
USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5)
USNS Brunswick (T-EPF-6)
USNS Carson City (T-EPF-7)
USNS Yuma (T-EPF-8)
USNS City of Bismarck (T-EPF-9)
the future USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10)
the future USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF-11)
the future USNS Newport (T-EPF-12)