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U.S. Navy receives third Joint High Speed Vessel

The U.S. Navy takes delivery of a third Joint High Speed vessel for cargo and troop delivery in littoral zones.

By Richard Tomkins
USNS Spearhead (U.S. Navy)
USNS Spearhead (U.S. Navy)

Shipbuilder Austal USA has delivered a third joint high speed vessel to the U.S. Navy for transition to operational status.

The USNS Millinocket, which will transport troops, equipment, and supplies to littoral offload points over operational distances, can carry 600 short tons of military cargo over 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. It is a shallow-draft vessel with a flight deck and an off-load ramp which can interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities.

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The vessel will be owned and operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command and crewed by civil service mariners’ "Today, the Navy received a tremendous resource," said Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager Capt. Henry Stevens, "Millinocket's speed, agility and cargo capabilities will be an asset to operations around the world."

Added Rear Adm. T.K. Shannon, commander, Military Sealift Command: “The JHSV ship class -- including USNS Millinocket -- will play an important part in the future of our joint forces in terms of affordability, flexibility, speed and agility.”

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