Ensign Greg Haubner fires a dual 50-Caliber machine gun under the instruction of Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Pixley during a familiarization fire exercise while underway on HSV Swift. Photo by: Sgt. Michael Hjelmstad, USMC.
Navy's evolutionary catamaran tested during African exercise
RELEASE NUMBER: 040106-1
January 06, 2004
By Edward Baxter, MSC Europe Public Affairs
WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA (USTCNS) --- Low intensity conflict, littoral warfare, special forces that can be whisked ashore at a moment's notice-all familiar terms to describe just how the military must transform to fight the ongoing global war on terrorism, and the battles of the 21st century.
For this very reason, the Navy's Military Sealift Command, or MSC, chartered two high-speed vessels-HSV Swift and HSV Westpac Express-sleek, stealthy, high-speed catamarans with a multitude of mission capabilities to meet today's security challenges, including: mine warfare, maritime interdiction, littoral warfare, humanitarian assistance, as well as the ability to quickly deploy troops to a combat zone.
MV Swift recently wrapped up her first deployment, scouring the western coast of Africa during West African Training Cruise, or WATC, 2004-training with the militaries of South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, the Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Morocco, Nov. 3-Dec. 2.
In addition to crew orientation, the exercise was an opportunity to test the ship's multi-faceted capabilities, to include riverine operations, helicopter deck landing trials, and amphibious raids. Assigned to MSC's Special Mission program, MSC contracted the 300-ft. Swift from Bollinger/Incat USA Wave Piercing Catamaran, a consortium of both U.S. and Australian firms, as an interim Mine Warfare Command support ship. But, the Navy and Marines are looking into many different ways the ship can be used in modern warfare.
Delivered to the U.S. Navy in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, in August, Swift can carry up to 350 fully equipped troops, has a top speed of over 35 knots, and is capable of loading and unloading a multitude of military vehicles, including M1-A1 main battle tanks. Swift can also launch and recover small craft with an onboard crane, and has a helicopter landing deck capable of landing giant CH-46 "Sea Knight" helicopters.