TSAMTO, January 25. On January 22, Austal USA announced on its Twitter page about the keel laying ceremony of the EPF (Expeditional Fast Transport) class "Sperheed", intended for the US Navy, held at the enterprise in Mobile (Alabama).
(T-EPF-13) The Apalachicola will be the 13th of 14 high-speed expeditionary transports currently ordered by the US Navy, the construction of which is being carried out by Austal.
The EPF (formerly designated JHSV) is a high-speed multi-purpose landing craft of the catamaran type that can be used by the US Navy, the USMC and the US Navy for the transfer of troops, cargo and military equipment (including the M1A2 Abrams MBT), supply units, support special operations, ensure maritime security and conduct humanitarian rescue operations in shallow water areas.
As reported by TSAMTO, in November 2008, a contract was signed with Austal for the supply of 10 multi-purpose landing ships JHSV to the US Navy. Their total cost was about $ 1.6 billion. In September 2016, the US Navy signed an initial contract with Austal USA for the construction of the 11th and 12th transports. On October 19, 2018, the US Navy placed a contract for the purchase of materials for the construction of the 13th ship of the series, and in December 2018-the 14th. In March 2019, the US Navy awarded Austal USA the main contract for the construction of EPF-13 and EPF-14. Its cost was $ 261,776 million.
The lead ship of the series, JHSV-1 Sperheed, was transferred to the U.S. Navy's Maritime Transportation Command on December 5, 2012. To date, 12 ships have been delivered to the customer: the 12th transport, (EPF-12) "Newport" was delivered on September 3, 2020.
Construction of EPF-13 " Apalachicola "began on August 19, 2019, (T-EPF-14)" Cody " – on October 20, 2020. To date, the cost of the program for the construction of 14 EPF ships exceeds $ 2 billion.
The 103-meter-long EPF ship is designed to transport 600 tons of cargo over a distance of 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. The aircraft can accommodate up to 312 amphibious personnel in individual seats. The crew of 26 people. Each ship is equipped with a flight deck for receiving various types of helicopters at any time of the day, including the CH-53 "Super Stallion".
