JHSV 3 Keel Authenticated
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS120504-09
5/4/2012
From Team Ships Public Affairs
MOBILE, Ala. (NNS) -- Austal USA held a keel laying ceremony for Joint High Speed Vessel Fortitude (JHSV 3) at its shipyard in Mobile, Ala., May 3, symbolically recognizing the beginning of ship construction.
During the ceremony, Rep. Jo Bonner authenticated the keel for the third JHSV under construction, currently more than 30 percent complete. Austal has leveraged production efficiencies, gained through the use of its Modular Manufacturing Facility.
"This keel laying of the third JHSV is an important milestone," said Capt. Henry Stevens, the Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager for PEO Ships. "We are now beginning to see the fruits of serial production and what it can mean to shipbuilding efficiency."
JHSVs will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment for missions ranging from contingency operations and humanitarian assistance, to disaster relief and emerging seabasing concepts in austere port environments.
The ships will be capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. They will be 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).
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. Currently, the majority of shipbuilding programs managed by PEO Ships are benefiting from serial production efficiencies, which are critical to delivering ships on cost and schedule.
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