The U.S. Navy christened its newest Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), the future USNS Newport (T-EPF-12), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony Saturday, November 9, at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

The principal speaker was Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, President of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Mrs. Charlotte Marshall, a Newport native, served as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-honored Navy tradition, she christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.

«This ship honors the city of Newport, Rhode Island, and serves as a reminder of the contributions the community has and continues to make to our Navy», said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. «Newport is a Navy town where many officers begin their careers and then return later for strategic training. It is right that a fourth ship will bear the name Newport to continue our long relationship, and provide our commanders high-speed sealift mobility and agility in the fight to defend our nation».

The first Newport (Gunboat No. 12) was commissioned October 5, 1897. During the Spanish-American War, she received credit for assisting in the capture of nine Spanish vessels. The ship was decommissioned in 1898, but recommissioned in 1900 to serve as a training ship at the Naval Academy and at the Naval Training Station at Newport, Rhode Island, until decommissioning in Boston in 1902.

The second Newport (PF-27) was commissioned September 8, 1944 and decommissioned in September 1945 and loaned to the U.S.S.R. under Lend-Lease and returned to United States custody at Yokosuka, Japan, in November 1949. Recommissioned in July 1950, Newport patrolled off Inchon, Korea, screening during the landings. Decommissioned at Yokosuka in April 1952, she was loaned to Japan in 1953, and commissioned as Kaede (PF-13). She was then reclassified PF-293 and transferred to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force outright in August 1962.

The third Newport (LST-1179) was commissioned on June 7, 1969. Assigned to the Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Newport alternated amphibious training operations along the east coast of the United States with extended deployments to the Caribbean and Mediterranean. She was decommissioned in October 1992, and transferred to the government of Mexico in 2001.

EPF class ships are designed to transport 600 short tons of military cargo 1,200 NM/1,381 miles/2,222 km at an average speed of 35 knots/40 mph/65 km/h. The ship is capable of operating in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams main battle tank (M1A2).

The EPF includes a flight deck for helicopter operations and an off-load ramp that will allow vehicles to quickly drive off the ship. EPF’s shallow draft (less than 15 feet/4.57 m) further enhances littoral operations and port access. This makes the EPF an extremely flexible asset for support of a wide range of operations including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for rapid transport.

 

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 City of Bismark (EPF-9), Delivered

USNS Burlington (EPF-10), Delivered

USNS Puerto Rico (EPF-11), Under construction

USNS Newport (EPF-12), Under construction

USNS Apalachicola (EPF-13), Under construction

USNS Cody (EPF-14), On order

The U.S. Navy held a keel laying and authentication ceremony for its twelfth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, USNS Newport (T-EPF-12), at Austal USA’s shipyard., January 29. The keel was said to be «truly and fairly laid» as it was authenticated by Charlotte Dorrance Marshall, signing her initials into the keel plate.

«We are excited to celebrate a major milestone in the construction of the 12th EPF of the class», said Captain Scot Searles, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. «These ships have proven versatility and capability, allowing them to be strategic assets to our fleet and partners abroad. The milestone we celebrate today is the first of many as we work to deliver another highly capable platform».

EPFs are non-combatant vessels designed to operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, increasing operational flexibility for a wide range of activities including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for rapid transport. The ships are capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, as well as on/off-loading vehicles such as a fully combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank.

EPFs support a variety of missions including the overseas contingency operations, conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supporting special operations forces, and supporting emerging joint sea-basing concepts. EPFs are capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. Each vessel includes a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations. Burlington will have airline-style seating for 312 embarked forces with fixed berthing for 104.

USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) was delivered in November2018, and Austal USA is currently in production on USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF-11), which was christened in November 2018. The U.S. Navy issued Austal long-lead-time material contracts in late 2018 for EPF-13 and EPF-14.

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 City of Bismark (EPF-9), Delivered

USNS Burlington (EPF-10), Delivered

USNS Puerto Rico (EPF-11), Under construction

USNS Newport (EPF-12), Under construction

EPF-13, On order

EPF-14, On order