Able to transporting 600 tons of personnel and cargo as much as 1,200 nautical miles at a median pace of 35 knots, every EPF vessel features a flight deck to assist day and evening plane launch and restoration operations. The ships are additionally able to interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge services, and might load and off-load heavy autos resembling a completely combat-loaded Abrams Predominant Battle Tank.
“At present’s launch marks one other profitable milestone for the EPF 14, and it demonstrates the energy of the Navy-Austal USA partnership,” mentioned Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Supervisor, Program Government Workplace, Ships, Tim Roberts. “EPFs present functionality and capability for a wide range of missions, when and the place our fleet wants assist.”
Launching an EPF is a multi-step course of, carried out 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 rapidly transport troops, navy autos, and tools wanted to assist:
- 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 Government Workplace, Ships is chargeable for executing the event and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, particular mission and assist ships, and particular warfare craft.
