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Swift (HSV 2) |
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High-Speed Vessel - HSV
Description
The high-speed catamaran HSV 2 Swift was
delivered to the U.S. Navy on August 15,
2003, and is currently serving operationally
as an interim Mine Warfare Command and
Support Ship (MCS) and Navy/Marine Corps
experimentation vessel. Swift will be used
to develop concepts, capabilities and
reconfigurable mission modules for multiple
mission areas in support of Littoral Combat
Ship (LCS) program development.
Background
The Navy has taken advantage of the lessons
learned from Joint Venture (HSV-X1) and the
Army's high-speed theater support vessel
Spearhead (TSV-1X). The Bollinger-Incat team
incorporated more than 75 enhancements in
Swift during construction, and demonstrated
unusual flexibility and a strong desire to
meet the Navy's needs. It took only ten
months from contract award to ship delivery
- record time for putting to sea a truly
transformational ship.
Because Swift was built to meet commercial
standards and intended for modular payloads,
the Navy could use commercial high-speed
vessel training courses for the crew, thus
enabling her to proceed directly from new
construction to deployment. She departed on
her maiden deployment only 11 days after
delivery.
Swift is a completely automated "sea frame"
ship that can perform many missions.
Building on lessons learned during the
testing of Joint Venture and that ship's
wartime deployment in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom, Swift brings new capabilities
and unparalleled opportunities for tactical
innovation to the Navy-Marine Corps team of
the 21st century.
General Characteristics, Swift (HSV 2)
Builder: Bollinger/Incat USA, LLC,
Lockport, LA.
Ship Type: Aluminum-hulled,
wave-piercing catamaran.
Date Deployed: August 2003.
Unit Cost: Contract Value: $21.7
million (First year value) Current lease can
go out to four years 11 months if all
options exercised.
Propulsion: Caterpillar 3618 marine
Diesel engines.
Length: 321.5 feet (98 meters).
Beam: 88.6 feet (27 meters).
Speed: Max: 53+ miles per hour (85+
kilometers per hour/45+ knots)
Operating: 34+ miles per hours (55+
kilometers per hour/30+ knots).
Range: 4,000+ miles (6,500
kilometers/3,500+ nautical miles).
Crew: Approximately 42; Berthing for
107 with additional temporary berthing for
87 when seating is converted.
Load: Approximately 605 tons (615
metric tons).
Cargo Deck: Approximately 28,740 sq.
ft. (2,670 square meters).
Armament: MK 96 w 25mm/40mm
Stabilized Gun; MK 45 Snake Eyes with MK 19
Grenade Machine Gun.
Homeport: Crew Homeports: Naval
Station Ingleside, TX. and Naval Amphibious
Base Little Creek, VA |
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Swift Naval Vessel
