The U.S. Navy’s eleventh Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessel, USNS Puerto Rico (EPF 11), successfully completed the first integrated sea. Gallery of US Navy photos. Operated by the Military Sealift Command, the EPF vessels support joint or coalition force operations of the army and navy. The US Navy's Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF) program is procuring 14 high-speed transport vessels from Austal for the fast, intra-theater transportation of troops, … Chief of Information Attn: US Navy 1200 Navy Pentagon Washington DC 20350-1200 USNS Yuma (T-EPF-8) is the eighth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport and operated by the Military Sealift Command. USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) (formerly JHSV-1) is the first Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport to be operated by the Military Sealift Command. EPF 11 will be owned and operated by Military Sealift Command. EPFs are capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. USNS Carson City (T-EPF-7), (formerly JHSV-7), (ex-Courageous) is the seventh Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport, currently in service with the Military Sealift Command. Spearhead-class ships are used to support overseas operations, conduct humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and support special operations forces; this type of vessel also has an aviation flight deck and can operate in shallow waters. USNS Spearhead was christened on 17 September 2011. She is the second ship in naval service named after Carson City, Nevada. U.S. Navy Testing EPF as Drone Mother Ship The U.S. Navy tested expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) as a mother ship for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). In November 2008, Austal was awarded a contract to design and construct the first 103-meter Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) - now known as Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) - with options for nine additional ships. … “We […] On 6 October 2011, Secretary of … February 6/20: Post Shakedown Availability Colonna Shipyards won a $10.5 million deal for a 75-day shipyard availability for the regular post shakedown availability of USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10). NAVSHIPSO NAVSEA Shipbuilding Support Office Norfolk Naval Shipyard Code 284, Bldg 705 Portsmouth, VA 23709-1020 (757) 967-3484 (757) 967-2957 (FAX) The EPF has a flight deck for helicopters and a load ramp that will allow vehicles to quickly drive on and off the ship. It is the fourth ship in naval service named after Yuma, Arizona. The delivery ceremony was held aboard the ship at Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, on December 10, 2019. The ship was christened on 20 August 2016 by ship's sponsor Janet Napolitano and launched at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama on 17 September 2016. 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. The Burlington is the tenth Spearhead Class expeditionary fast transport. Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) The EPF is able to transport U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps company-sized units with their vehicles, or reconfigurable to become a troop transport for an infantry battalion. USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) is the tenth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport and operated by the Military Sealift Command. AUSTAL USA CHRISTENS FUTURE USNS NEWPORT (EPF12) Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce that Austal USA has christened the twelfth Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), the future USNS Newport (EPF 12), at a ceremony held over the weekend at its state-of-the-art ship manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. The Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) is a United States Navy-led shipbuilding program to provide "a platform intended to support users in the Department of the Navy and Department of the Army.The Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) program is a cooperative effort for a high-speed, shallow draft vessel intended for rapid intratheater transport of medium-sized cargo payloads.