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HSV-2 proving to be Prototype for Littoral Combat Ship Program

NAVSEA News Wire

Release Date: 4/2/2004

By JOC Milinda D. Jensen Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - The High Speed Vessel (HSV-2) Swift, the Navy's leased high-speed catamaran, was moored in Alexandria, Va., from March 31 to April 2 in order to showcase its versatile mission capability and platform potential for the future Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program.

The HSV-2, home ported in Ingleside, Texas, is a modified commercial craft (similar to high-speed ferries), with a flight deck and hanger for two H-60 helicopters, a stern vehicle ramp capable of supporting an M-1 Abrams tank, berthing space for more than 40 crew members, communications for a wide range of missions and a load compensating crane capable of launch and recovery of small boats and unmanned vehicles up to 26,000 lbs.

"Moving supplies on and off the ship demands less time," Petty Officer 1st Class Storekeeper Jorge Flores, SWIFT's Assistant Supply Officer and Leading Storekeeper explained.

"Offloading typically takes about 30 minutes, driving vehicles to a simple concrete pier without the need for tugs or shore support." Flores added that because of the ship's high rate of speed, (during sea trials SWIFT topped out at speeds more than 45 knots), the ship transited to a port about 100 miles away in just over three hours, fully loaded.

Leased by the Military Sealift Command (MSC), Washington, D.C., from Bollinger/Incat USA, LLC, Lockport, La., for two-years beginning in August 2003, and with the option of another five-year lease, Swift is being used as an interim Mine Warfare Command and Support Ship. Testing interoperability capabilities with causeways, watercraft, amphibious ships and other shipping are other areas of experimentation.

In concert with the CNO's guidance for smaller, smarter crews, HSV-2 rotates or sea swaps two crews, the blue team, Ingleside, Texas and the gold team, Little Creek, Va., every 90-115 days. This teaming approach affords a high level operational tempo (OPTEMPO), with little down time.

The smaller crews necessitate cross training and multi-tasking and afford deck plate leadership from commanding officer to seaman, while shorter deployment times provide more family time for SWIFT Sailors.

'This is my second rotation,' said SK1 Flores. "It's the best of both worlds. I'm deployed for three to four months and then in homeport with my family for the next three to four months." During Flores' time in his homeport, he and other crewmembers attend training and continue their off-duty educational endeavors.

"Our culinary specialists (CSs) can attend specialty courses as chefs, bringing those skills back to our ship and the Fleet. Our information systems technicians (ITs) are able to cross-train the electronics technicians (ETs). It's a smarter ship, so we have to be smarter Sailors," commented the 17-year veteran.

The smarter ship has raised the quality of life level for Sailors with; carpeted berthing areas; a mess deck that runs forward and middle of the ship with seating or lounge areas port and starboard of the mess decks. And unlike traditional Navy ships, officers, chiefs and Sailors eat together on the one mess deck.

"Not only are we the best Navy team, we're also close like family, said Cmdr. Clarke T. Price, Commanding Officer HSV-2 SWIFT. "With a smaller crew, you get to really know your Sailors and see their potential, and how to use that potential."

Price's philosophy is to set no limits on Sailors. "If they have the desire and motivation to accomplish a goal, say getting qualified as a ship's driver, they're given that opportunity."

SWIFT Sailors are continuing to stretch their own limits, by stretching the HSV-2's endless Navy mission possibilities of Littoral Combat Ship platforms.