Navy Christens Third SWATH T-AGOS At McDermott Yard

The USNS Effective (T-AGOS- 21) was recently christened at McDermott Shipyard in Amelia, La.

The Honorable Craig S. King, General Counsel of the Navy was the principal speaker at the ceremony, and his wife, Janet, was the ship's sponsor. Richard S. Haynes, Counsel for the Military Sealift Command, represented the MSC and spoke at the ceremony.

The USNS Effective features a unique twin-hull design which makes the ship more efficient in rough waters. In heavy seas, bow slamming forces single-hulled ships to slow to as little as 20 to 30 percent of their calm water speed. Twinhulled ships can go faster in rough water and the stability provided by this type of design makes it easier for crews to carry out their mission of ocean surveillance. The Effective is one of four SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) TAGOS ships built or under construction at McDermott Shipyard for the U.S. Navy. The first, the USNS Victorious (T-AGOS-19), was delivered this past August; the second, USNS Able (T-AGOS-20), was christened in February 1991; and the fourth, the USNS Loyal (T-AGOS- 22), is under construction.

The Effective is 234.5 feet long, has a beam of 93.5 feet, fully loaded draft of 24.6 feet, and a sustained speed of 9.6 knots. She will tow underwater listening devices to collect acoustical data and carry electronic equipment to process and transmit that data via satellite to shore stations for evaluation. The ship, the listening devices and the electronic equipment are all part of a system called the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System or SURTASS.

She will carry a civilian crew of 25, with 12 technicians from the Naval Space and Warfare Systems Command. When delivered, the Effective will come under the control of the Military Sealift Command, Pacific, and will operate to support the anti-submarine warfare of Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet.

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