The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of its eighth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, USNS Yuma (EPF-8), April 21.

EPFs are shallow draft, all aluminum, commercial-based catamarans capable of intra-theater personnel and cargo transport, that provide combatant commanders high-speed sealift mobility. EPFs enable rapid projection and agile maneuver and transport of personnel, equipment and supplies over operational distances and offer access to harsh and degraded offload points.

«EPFs have performed exceptionally in the fleet, and we continue to deliver highly capable ships that can successfully meet a wide range of missions», said Captain Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. «The delivery of Yuma will provide continued warfighting capabilities to our fleet as these ships continue to conduct operations around the globe».

As versatile, non-combatant vessels, EPFs provide increased operational flexibility for a wide range of activities including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations, and flexible logistics support. These vessels can interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities and are capable of on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank. The EPFs include a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations and airline-style seating for 312 embarked forces with fixed berthing for 104. USNS Yuma (EPF-8) will be owned and operated by the Military Sealift Command.

USNS Yuma (EPF-8) was constructed by Austal USA which is currently under contract for the construction of four additional EPFs. A christening ceremony is scheduled for USNS City of Bismarck (EPF-9) next month with a keel laying ceremony planned for USNS Burlington (EPF-10) early this summer. EPFs 11 and 12 were awarded in September 2016 and are currently in the early stages of production.

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS
Material	Hull and superstructure – aluminium alloy
Length overall	103 m/337.9 feet
Beam overall	28.5 m/93.5 feet
Hull draft (maximum)	3.83 m/12.57 feet
MISSION BAY
Area (with tie-downs)	1,863 m2/20,053 feet2
Clear Height	4.75 m/15.6 feet
Turning diameter	26.2 m/86.0 feet
ISO TEU (Twenty Equivalent Units) Stations	6 Interface Panels
ACCOMMODATIONS
Crew	41
Single SR	2
Double SR	6
Quad SR	7
Troop Seats	312
Troop Berths	Permanent: 104
	Temporary: 46
Galley and Messing	48
PROPULSION
Main Engines	4 × MTU 20V8000 M71L Diesel Engines 4 × 9.1 MW
Gear boxes	4 × ZF 60000NR2H Reduction Gears
Waterjets	4 × Wartsila WLD 1400 SR
PERFORMANCE
Average Speed	35 knots/40 mph/65 km/h @ 90% MCR with 635 mt (700 st) payload
Maximum Speed	43 knots/50 mph/80 km/h without payload
Maximum Transit Range	1,200 NM/1,381 miles/2,222 km
Self-Deployment Range	5,600 NM/6,444 miles/10,371 km
Survival Through	SS-7
AVIATION FACILITIES
NAVAIR Level 1 Class 2 Certified Flight Deck for one helicopter
Centreline parking area for one helicopter
NAVAIR Level 1 class 4 Type 2 Certified VERTREP (Vertical Replenishment)
Helicopter Control Station
AUXILIARY SYSTEMS
Active Ride Control	Transcom Interceptors
	Foils: 3.24 m2/34.9 feet2 each, forward on inboard sides of demi-hulls
Vehicle Ramp	Articulated Slewing Stern Ramp
	Straight aft to 45 Starboard
Telescoping Boom Crane	12.3 mt @ 15 m, 18.2 mt @ 10 m/13.6 Lt @ 49.2 feet, 20.1 Lt @ 32.8 feet

 

Ships

USNS Spearhead (EPF-1), Delivered

USNS Choctaw County (EPF-2), Delivered

USNS Millinocket (EPF-3), Delivered

USNS Fall River (EPF-4), Delivered

USNS Trenton (EPF-5), Delivered

USNS Brunswick (EPF-6), Delivered

USNS Carson City (EPF-7), Delivered

USNS Yuma (EPF-8), Delivered

USNS Bismark (EPF-9), Under construction

USNS Burlington (EPF-10), Under construction

USNS Puerto Rico (EPF-11), Under construction

USNS EPF-12, Under construction