USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) Completes Acceptance Trials

Joint High Speed Vessel USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) completed the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship, completing Acceptance Trials (AT) on July 25, 2014, in the Gulf of Mexico. This milestone achievement involved the performance of intense comprehensive tests by the Navy while underway, which demonstrated the operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment.

According to Craig Perciavalle, Austal USA’s President “Completing this trial is a credit to Austal’s shipbuilders, our Industry teammates and the U.S. Navy team. We all work together to deliver a ship that is ready to enter the fleet and these trials proved USNS Fall River is ready to start her naval service.”

“This is our fourth JHSV and the first three are doing great things for our country and Navy. Less than a year after delivery to the Navy, they are forward deployed supporting the National Security objectives of our country,” Perciavalle added. Since delivery of USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), Joint High Speed Vessels have supported operations in European, African, Southern and Pacific Command areas of responsibility.

This vessel is the fourth of ten JHSVs that Austal has been contracted by the Navy to build in its Mobile, Ala. shipyard. The Navy selected Austal as the prime for this $1.6 billion contract in 2008. Austal’s teaming partner, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (a business unit of General Dynamics), is the ship systems integrator, responsible for the design, integration and testing of the navigation and communications systems, C4I, and aviation systems.

As the U.S. Department of Defense’s multi-use platform, the 103-meter JHSV provides rapid intra-theater deployment/transportation of personnel, equipment and supplies. The vessel supports military logistics, sustainment and humanitarian relief operations at speeds of up to 43 knots. The JHSV transports medium-size operational units with their vehicles, or reconfigure to provide troop transport for an infantry battalion, allowing units to transit long distances while maintaining unit integrity. The vessel also supports helicopter operations and has a slewing vehicle ramp on the starboard quarter which enables use of austere piers and quay walls, common in developing countries. A shallow draft (under 4.6 meters) further enhances theater port access.

USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) will soon be followed by Trenton (JHSV 5) which Austal will launch early in the Fall. Fabrication is well underway on Brunswick (JHSV 6).

Austal USA is a full-service shipyard offering design, construction, service and repair. Austal has been contracted by the U.S. Navy to build ten 103-meter JHSVs and eight 127-meter Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships which are a part of a 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract.