Able to transporting 600 tons of personnel and cargo as much as 1,200 nautical miles at a mean velocity of 35 knots, every EPF vessel features a flight deck to help day and night time plane launch and restoration operations. The ships are additionally able to interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge amenities, and might load and off-load heavy automobiles equivalent to a totally combat-loaded Abrams Fundamental Battle Tank.
“As we speak’s launch marks one other profitable milestone for the EPF 14, and it demonstrates the power of the Navy-Austal USA partnership,” mentioned Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Supervisor, Program Govt Workplace, Ships, Tim Roberts. “EPFs present functionality and capability for a wide range of missions, when and the place our fleet wants help.”
Launching an EPF is a multi-step course of, performed over two full days. The ship is moved from the Modular Manufacturing Facility the place it was constructed to a docking barge, after which transported to a floating dry dock. Submerging the dry dock into the water then launches the ship to drift by itself.
EPFs function in shallow waterways. These versatile, non-combatant transport ships are used to shortly transport troops, navy automobiles, and tools wanted to help:
- Abroad contingency operations
- Humanitarian help
- Catastrophe aid
- Particular operations forces efforts
- Theater safety cooperation actions
- Rising joint sea-basing ideas
As one of many Protection Division’s largest acquisition organizations, Program Govt Workplace, Ships is liable for executing the event and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, particular mission and help ships, and particular warfare craft.
