Watercraft increases ways to transport IBCT
by Spc. Kenneth Rockett
FORT EUSTIS, Va. (Army News Service, Aug. 27, 2002) -- The Army is transforming into a quicker force, and a leased watercraft that is four-times faster than any other in the inventory is currently being tested by both the Army and Navy before joining the Transformation family.
The most recent test that the 313-foot-long High-Speed Vessel X-1, also known as the Joint Venture, completed for the Army was transporting elements of an Interim Brigade Combat Team at the conclusion of Exercise Millennium Challenge 2002.
Soldiers, their combat gear, support vehicles and 14 of the Army's new Stryker infantry carriers were transported from the Port of Hueneme, Calif., to Tacoma, Wash.
The Strykers, already part of the Army's inventory, are a prime example of the Army's transformation into a faster, lighter, more lethal force, officials said.
If future high-speed vessels enter the Army's inventory as intra-theater watercraft, their designations will be changed from HSV to TSV, or Theater Support Vessel.
Traveling across the water at speeds of up to 40 knots, or 46 miles per hour, coupled with the ship's capacity to transport hundreds of soldiers and their equipment simultaneously makes the vessel an ideal candidate for Army use, officials said.
Future TSVs would also be equipped with a state-of-the-art communications system that will allow commanders to monitor the battlefield and adjust their plans on the way to the fight.
The HSV, being jointly tested by the Army and Navy, has been under Army control since April, undergoing testing in various theaters across the globe.
Whether making its way through the frigid waters near the Arctic or the scalding heat of the Persian Gulf, the HSV continues to impress Army personnel involved with the project, officials said.
For testing purposes, only elements of one Stryker team were transported, however a fleet of future TSVs outfitted for Army use would be capable of carrying full Stryker brigades.
"This vessel would allow the Army to deliver and reposition combat maneuver capability inside theaters of operation faster than we've ever been able to do before," said Maj. Gen. Robert T. Dail, commanding general, Fort Eustis.
Dail also said that the unique design of the vessel allows it to enter shallow ports, something current load-carrying watercraft can't do.
"The TSV directly supports the vision of the Army's chief of staff, which is a Transformed 21st Century -- versatility, agility, deployability, maneuverability -- all of the things we want in our Army of the future," Dail said.
For leaders of Army forces on the ground, the TSV could add more flexibility in transporting troops and equipment.
"Normally we would probably go into an airfield using Air Force assets," said Maj. James Lechner, executive officer, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash., speaking about how Stryker teams would deploy.
"Now, we load onto a troop ship and wait for several weeks," Lechner said. "Both of those things have a lot of limitations, such as limited availability of aircraft and limited space on the ground for landing.
"This ship would add to your options because while you're waiting all day to put a platoon in an airfield this vessel can insert one or two companies complete. That's a great option to have."
Aboard the vessel, the crew that has operated and maintained the HSV has also learned a lot about this one-of-a-kind vessel.
"I actually think this is a good step for the Army," said Staff Sgt. Shawn Carpenter, watercraft engineer, 24th Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Group. Carpenter said the HSV's speed is probably the most eye-opening aspect of the vessel.
"Most of our boats (in the Army) do about 10 to 12 knots, so this ship is about four times faster than what we're used to -- and that's a big difference."
He also said the vessel's turning radius, in addition to stopping performance and overall capabilities, would make it a valuable addition for Army mariners.
"With vessels like this one, we could transport massive amounts of troops and equipment to different parts of the world, and we could do it fast," Carpenter said.
For the HSV's current vessel master, Chief Warrant Officer 4 William Davis, 24th Transportation Battalion, it's the vessel's speed paired with other performance abilities that have allowed him to get in and out of various ports where it would have been difficult or impossible before.
"This boat is highly maneuverable," Davis said, "you can spin it on a dime."
"You can also be going at 40 knots and come to a dead stop in just over a boat and a half length."
"As a future Army vessel, it has a lot of potential," Davis said.
The current yearlong lease is costing the Army about $10 million. If the decision was made to purchase vessels for the Army's fleet, estimates indicate a price tag of $85 million each.
Testing continues with the HSV. If things go according to plan, by the end of September the HSV will have circumnavigated the globe in less than 30 days total sailing time, record time for an Army vessel, officials said.
(Editor's note: Spc. Kenneth Rockett is a photojournalist for 7th Transportation Group, Fort Eustis, Va.)
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