Feature 2 | US Navy
(LPD 18), although she passed trials
in December.
While these issues have apparently
been resolved others have been recorded
with the ship’s solid-waste processing
system, well-deck ventilation systems,
control and electrical systems and
leaks. An inexperienced workforce
brought in after Hurricane ‘Katrina’
are reportedly the cause of these
qualitative failures.
Military Sealift Command continues
to receive Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1)
solid store ships with General Dynamics
National Steel and Shipbuilding
Company (NASSCO) recently receiving
a US$940 million US Navy contract to
build two more ships and to purchase
long-lead construction materials for USS North Carolina (SSN 777) and New Hampshire (shown here) were both
another two. commissioned in 2008.
The USNS Washington Chambers
(T-AKE 11) and William McLean
(T-AKE 12) will be built under a day and night air-vehicle launch and reviewed and analysed during the first
US$740 million contract and they will recovery operations, with the ships half of 2009.
be completed by February 2012 and able to remain operational in Sea State The US Coast Guard is still slowly
January 2013. Another US$200 million 3 and survive in Sea State 7, although moving into Project Deepwater with
will aid construction of T-AKE 13 and 14 there have been suggestions that they the first Legend class National Security
through the acquisition of engines and will only be able to unload in Sea State Cutter, USCG Bertholf (WMSL 750),
other components. Work is scheduled 1. The fixed-price incentive contract for beginning operations last year and
to begin in the second and fourth the first JHSV is US$185 million and design of the Offshore Patrol Cutter
quarters of 2010 and to be completed by the programme envisages five ships for scheduled to start this year. Bollinger
November 2014. the Navy and five for the Army, with the have won a US$88 million contract to
The need for the DoD to react to latter service receiving the first ship in produce the first Fast Response Cutter,
crises in support of expeditionary November 2011. based on the Damen 4708 design, with
operations has led to some interesting Meanwhile, the last months of the Bush deliveries by the end of 2010.
developments. Austal USA has won a Administration saw a major review of the Up to 34 of these vessels are required
contract worth up to US$1.6 billion to Maritime Positioning Force, Future of and the total value of the contract could
build up to 10 Joint High Speed Vessels MPF (F). The MPF concept is based upon be US$1.5 billion. They are to replace
(JHSV) a new high-speed transports for providing Expeditionary Strike Groups the Island (WPB 1301) class cutters,
the US Army and Navy, although this with heavy equipment and supplies which are showing signs of age, a
may rise to 25. For a number of years that will allow up to two brigades to be problem which has developed suddenly
the Pentagon has leased Austal or Incat deployed for up to 45 days and it is based with the Hamilton and Hero (WHEC
high-speed ferries for operation by the upon three squadrons of ships operating 715) class High Endurance Cutters that
Navy, Marine Corps and Army. However, in regions of potential crisis. the Bertholf class is to replace.
it is now seeking its own ships. MPF (F) envisaged up to 12 LHA 6 Corrosion problems have been
The JHSVs will be capable of class ships, but the new thinking is to use discovered in USCG Gallatin (WHEC
transporting 600 short tons or 300 these ships in future Expeditionary Strike 721) and Dallas (WHEC 716), the former
personnel some 1200nm (2200km) at Groups and to have smaller squadrons also showing signs of severe structural
an average speed of 35kts. The 103 m of three or four ships to support their damage while the latter suffered a fire in
(103m) design based on the WestPac operations, augmented by material from the engine room in August 2008.
Express will operate in shallow-draft bases in the region. The new concept The US Coast Guard is drawing
ports and waterways, interfacing with still envisages a two-brigade force which up plans to enable it to keep the
roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and would be doubled by forces from the high-endurance cutters in service until
on/off-loading a combat-loaded M1A2 USA, bringing with them further MPF their scheduled replacement, which was
Abrams main battle tank. vessels with equipment and stores for a originally scheduled for 2010 but has
An aviation flight deck will support sustained campaign. The concept will be now been extended. WT
20 Warship Technology March 2009
WT_Mar09_p16+17+18+20.indd 4 3/4/09 9:37:43 PM
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