Austal has successfully completed builder’s sea trials of the US Navy’s third Spearhead-class joint high-speed vessel (JHSV), USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3), at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, US.
During builder’s sea trials the ship’s major systems, including the combat, propulsion, ballasting, communications, navigations and mission systems underwent comprehensive tests.
The builder’s trials success marks the completion of the first phase of a set of rigorous trials designed to validate the ship’s systems and capabilities while ensuring they meet required plans and specifications.
Strategic and Theater Sealift programme manager, captain Henry Stevens said, "Over the last few days, we conducted hundreds of tests to evaluate the ship’s systems, handling and capabilities, all of which bring us one step closer to acceptance trials and delivery."
Austal JHSV team includes General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, which is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ship’s navigation and aviation systems, in addition to control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems.
Operated by the Military Sealift Command, the JHSVs can support a range of missions such as overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supporting special operations forces and emerging joint sea-basing concepts.
Capable of performing day and night air vehicle launch and recovery operations in shallow-draft ports, the vessels have a displacement capacity of 2,362t, beam of 28.5m, a draft of 3.8m and can cruise at a maximum speed of 43k.
The versatile, non-combatant, transport ship can accommodate a crew of 42 and is powered by four MTU 20V8000 M71L diesel engines driving four Wartsila WLD 1400 SR waterjets through four ZF 60000NR2H reduction gears.
Image: Officials during the US Navy’s USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3) christening ceremony. Photo: courtesy of Austal.
