JHSV brings unique capabilities to US Naval Forces Southern Command and US 4th Fleet

USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its unique capabilities received an outstanding endorsement from Rear Admiral George W. Balance, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet in a recent 'Navy Live' blog article on the success of the Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2014 operations in Central and South America.

“For the SPS 2014 operation, supported by the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), the U.S. Navy brought Adaptive Force Packages (AFPs) - teams of skilled professionals and their associated equipment which can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the mission at hand - to the shores of our partner nations to conduct training and engagements not otherwise easily done.

In order to do this mission effectively, these AFPs need to be transported in a rapid and efficient manner from country to country to support operations on the ground in Central and South America.

Having a flexible and agile platform on which to deploy these forces while providing the capability to access shallow waters and perform maritime security operations in the littorals is essential to help us achieve our mission.

At U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet, we call on the JHSV to help us do just that. The JHSV’s capability to reach up to 35-knots, its 20,000 sq. ft. mission bay and helicopter landing platform, as well as its roll-on/roll-off ramp, which is adaptable to even the most austere piers and quays found in Central and South America, allows us to deliver our forces and equipment much more rapidly and easily.

The JHSV simply lowered its ramp and vehicles and gear were easily driven off the ship onto the piers.

I am excited to have such a ship at our disposal and look forward to continued cooperative efforts with Military Sealift Command in deploying Spearhead and her sister JHSVs in support of the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command mission.”

USNS Spearhead was the first Joint High Speed Vessel built by Austal at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, under a 10 ship, US$1.6 billion contract.