USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4)

USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4) is the fourth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport, which is part of the United States Military Sealift Command (MSC).[1][2][3] Fall River was built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.[1][2]

For other ships with the same name, see USS Fall River.
USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4)
Fall River completes acceptance trials in 2014.
History
United States
Name: USNS Fall River
Namesake: Fall River, Massachusetts
Operator: Military Sealift Command
Awarded: 12 October 2010[1]
Builder: Austal USA[1]
Laid down: 20 May 2013[1]
Launched: 16 January 2014[1]
Sponsored by: Diane Bemus Patrick
Christened: 11 January 2014
In service: 15 September 2014[1]
Identification:
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Class and type: Spearhead class Expeditionary Fast Transport
Length: 103.0 m (337 ft 11 in)
Beam: 28.5 m (93 ft 6 in)
Draft: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
Propulsion:
  • 4 × MTU 20V8000 M71L diesel engines
  • 4 × ZF 60000NR2H reduction gears
Speed: 43 knots (80 km/h; 49 mph)
Troops: 312
Crew: 41
Aircraft carried: Medium helicopter

On 23 March 2010, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced in Fall River, Massachusetts that the fourth Expeditionary Fast Transport will be named USNS Fall River. Because the ship will be operated by the Military Sealift Command and not the United States Navy itself, it will carry the USNS prefix instead of USS.[4][5][6]

The ship was christened on January 11, 2014 by First Lady of Massachusetts, Diane Bemus Patrick, at Austal USA's Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.[7] The ship was launched seven days later on the 16th of January.[8] Fall River completed acceptance trials on 25 July 2014. Following delivery and Final Contract Trials (FCT) later in the year,[9] Fall River was accepted into MSC service on 15 September 2014.[10]

Capabilities

The EPF will be able to transport US Army and US Marine Corps company-sized units with their vehicles, or reconfigure to become a troop transport for an infantry battalion.[2]

It will have a flight deck for helicopter operations and a loading ramp that will allow vehicles to quickly drive on and off the ship. The ramp will be suitable for the types of austere piers and quay walls common in developing countries. EPF will have a shallow draft (under 15 feet (4.6 m)).[2]

References
  1. "Fall River". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  2. Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), USN. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  3. Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  4. Welker, Grant; GateHouse News Service (25 March 2010). "Navy names ship after Fall River in honor of city's service". Herald News. Fall River, Massachusetts. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. SecNav: 4th JHSV will be Fall River (25 March 2010). "SecNav: 4th JHSV will be Fall River". Military Daily News. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  6. Ewing, Philip (25 March 2010). "SecNav: 4th JSHV will be Fall River – Navy News, news from Iraq". Navy Times. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  7. Bowden, Michelle; austalusa.com (11 January 2014). "USNS FALL RIVER (JHSV 4) CHRISTENED - ONE OF SEVEN NAVY VESSELS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT AUSTAL USA". Austal USA Website. Mobile, Alabama. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  8. Bowden, Michelle; austalusa.com (16 January 2014). "AUSTAL LAUNCHES USNS FALL RIVER (JHSV 4). FIRST OF FOUR NAVY SHIPS TO BE LAUNCHED AT AUSTAL IN 2014". Austal USA Website. Mobile, Alabama. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  9. USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) Completes Acceptance Trials - Seapowermagazine.org, 1 August 2014
  10. Fourth Joint High Speed Vessel Delivers - News.USNI.org, 15 September 2014

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