U
.
S
.
N
AV
Y
CABLE LAYING AND REPAIR SHIP (T-ARC)
BRIEFING: The first and only cable-laying and repair ship
built especially for the U.S. Navy, Zeus can lay up to 1,000
miles of cable to depths up to 9,000 feet. The ship supports
the Sound Surveillance System network of strategically placed
sonar sensors providing early warning of submarines.
Zeus
DISPLACEMENT: . . . . . . . . . 14,334 tons full load
LENGTH: ................513 feet
BEAM:................... 73 feet
SPEED: .................. 14 knots
POWER PLAN T: . . . . . . . . . . integrated, twin shaft, diesel-electric, 10,000 shp
( 5,000 hp each shaft)
CREW: ..................58mariners
BUILDER: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Dynamics NASSCO
No layberth assigned
T-ARC 7 Zeus
PM8: EXPEDITIONARY FAST
TRANSPORT
EXPEDITIONARY FAST TRANSPORTS (T-EPF)
BRIEFING: Formerly designated joint high-speed vessels
(JHSVs), T-EPFs are high-speed, shallow-draft ships capable
of intra-theater personnel and cargo lift for the armed services.
Able to reach speeds of more than 35 knots, they enable the
rapid transit and deployment of conventional and special forces,
equipment and supplies in support of maneuver and sustainment operations. The vessels can carry Army and Marine Corps
company-sized units with vehicles and tanks, and are able to
support a variety of noncombat missions, including humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, theater security cooperation,
maritime domain awareness and noncombatant evacuations.
The design features a flight deck capable of landing an
H- 53 helicopter and parking an H- 60. There is a stern ramp
for vehicle access to the mission deck. The ramp is suitable
for the types of austere piers and quay walls common in
developing countries as well as for lighters and floating cause-
ways in a low sea state. The ship’s crane can be used for the
launch and recovery of small craft as well as cargo movement
between the mission bay, flight deck and over the side. The
ship’s draft and maneuverability allows it to operate in shal-
low waters without tug support.
The Army and Navy initially pursued separate programs
to meet their requirements for intra-theater connectors, but
as an economic initiative, the Army’s Theater Support Vessel
program was combined with the Navy and Marine Corps’
High-Speed Connector. Each service originally was to own and
operate five vessels, but the Army ships were transferred to
the Navy in May 2011.
Spearhead was delivered by Austal USA as JHSV 1 in December 2012. Deliveries occur about every six months. USNS Yuma
is expected to be delivered in 2017. The 11th and 12th T-EPFs
were ordered in September. The 12 T-EPFs will be operated
by MSC CIVMARs and forward deploy to assigned combatant
commanders.
Spearhead Class
DISPLACEMENT: . . . . . . . . . 2,362 long tons
LENGTH: ................338 feet
BEAM:................... 93. 5 feet
DRAFT:.................. 13 feet
SPEED: .................. 35 knots
RANGE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200 nautical miles carrying 600 short tons at an
average speed of 35 knots; 4,700 nautical miles at
23 knots, empty of cargo
COMPLEMENT: . . . . . . . . . . 22 civil service mariners or contract mariners
LIF T CAPACIT Y: . . . . . . . . . . 600 short tons and 312 passengers
POWER PLANT: . . . . . . . . . . 4 MTU 8000 diesel engines
BUILDER:................Austal USA
Area of Operations
T-EPF 1 Spearhead .................................................Atlantic
T-EPF 2 Choctaw County .......................................Persian Gulf
T-EPF 3 Millinocket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Western/Eastern Pacific
T-EPF 4 Fall River ...................................Western/Eastern Pacific
T-EPF5 Trenton .................................... Atlantic/Mediterranean
T-EPF 6 Brunswick ..........................................Western Pacific
T-EPF 7 Carson City ................................. Atlantic/Mediterranean
T-EPF 8 Yuma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (under construction; delivery in March 2017)
T-EPF 9 City of Bismarck. . . . . . . . . . . . (under construction; delivery in July 2017)
T-EPF 10 Burlington . . . . . . . . . . . . (under construction; delivery in January 2018)
T-EPF 11 Puerto Rico. . . . . . . . . . (under construction; delivery in February 2019)
T-EPF 12 (unnamed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (under construction; delivery TBD)
U
.
S
.
N
A
V
Y
LEWIS B. PULLER LEWIS PULLER CLASS
MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND SHIPS
PM7: AFLOAT STAGING/COMMAND SUPPORT
U
.
S
.
N
A
V
Y
MILLINOCKE T SPEARHEAD CLASS, FRONT, WITH USS McCAMPBELL, THIRD
SHIP, AND BRUNEI NAV Y SHIPS
