Lewis B. Puller Successfully Completes Float-Off
The Navy's third Mobile Landing Platform (MLP), Lewis B. Puller successfully completed launch and float-off at the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) shipyard Nov. Lewis B. Puller is the first afloat forwarding staging base (AFSB) variant of the MLP. The ship is designed around four core capabilities - aviation, berthing, equipment staging area, and command and control - and optimized to support a variety of maritime missions. "The maturity and stability of the Mobile Landing Platform shipbuilding program has allowed for the smooth transition to the afloat forward staging base variant," said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships.
USNS Fall River Delivered by Austal USA
The Navy informs it has accepted delivery of Joint High Speed Vessel, the future 'USNS Fall River' from the Austal USA shipbuilder. The delivery marks a major milestone, the official transfer of the vessel from the shipbuilder to the Navy. USNS Fall River is the U.S. Navy's fourth Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). "Today the Navy received a tremendous asset," said Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager Capt. Henry Stevens. Joint High Speed Vessels are versatile, non-combatant transport ships built from a commercial design with limited modifications for military use. These ships enable the fast, intra-theater transport of troops, military vehicles and equipment. Each JHSV is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots.
USNS John Glenn Completes Final Contract Trials
USNS John Glenn (MLP 2), successfully completed Final Contract Trials (FCT) off the coast of Manchester, Washington July 31. During the trials, the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey along with the ship's crew tested the vessel's various hull, mechanical, and electrical systems to demonstrate that the ship meets Navy standards and requirements, and is materially ready to perform all of its slated in-service missions. John Glenn, the second of the Navy's Mobile Landing Platforms (MLP), was constructed by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO). Since delivering to the Navy from NASSCO in March, her crew has moved onboard and begun training on the ship's systems in preparation for these trials.
Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Montford Point
The first Mobile Landing Platform ship, 'USNS Montford Point' (MLP 1), built by General Dynamics-NASSCO, accepted in San Diego, Calif. The Mobile Landing Platform is a new class of ship and highly flexible platform that will provide capability for large-scale logistics movements such as the transfer of light and heavy vehicles and equipment from sea to shore. "MLP-1 has gone from concept to delivery in under five years, a remarkable feat reflecting the diligent work of the Navy and shipbuilding team from design through testing and trials," said Capt.
Second JHSV Completes Builder's Trials
Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) 2, the future 'USNS Choctaw County', successfully comes through Austal USA's sea trials. Builder's trials are a significant step in the construction and delivery of a ship to the fleet and are the first opportunity to operate the ship underway and test overall system performance prior to demonstration to the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). "JHSV 2 is the second ship in this class to go through rigorous builder's trials testing," said Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager Capt. Henry Stevens. "At this stage, JHSV 2 is more complete than the lead ship, and we are benefitting from JHSV 1's lessons learned.
