Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2016)

MARKET INSIGHT: U.S. NAVY (U.S. Navy Photo by Bill Mesta/Released)

U.S. Navy Sailors attached to Military Sealift Command’s Expeditionary Fast Transport class ship, USNS Spearhead (T-EFP 1), man the rails at Joint Expeditionary

Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Spearhead pulled into the joint base signifying the completion of a ? ve month deployment in support of Africa Partnership Station 2016.

long-term capability and capacity for ny (GD/NASSCO) – capable of building shipbuilding program, previously known craft, the navy still relies on the quality purpose-built Air Defense Commander either. One of these two shipyards will as the T-AO(X) program. The ? rst ship of its personnel. (ADC) platforms. be awarded the ? rst six TAO-205s; the was funded in 2016 and the Navy even- Chief of Naval Operations Admiral “We now have six ships of this class other shipyard will be awarded LHA-8. tually wants to build 17 of them. A small Richardson said, “The most important delivered, 18 currently on contract, and The Navy has announced that the re- but important program is getting under- part of our Navy is our Team – Every- two additional ships to award this ? scal placement for the 12 Whidbey Island way to build ? ve T-ATF(X) ? eet ocean thing we do starts and ends with them. year,” said Maybus in his 2016 posture and Harpers Ferry amphibious ships tugs. As our platforms and missions become statement to Congress. “We are cur- (LSDs) will be 11 ships based on the San more complex, our need for talented rently upgrading the design, which will Antonio-class LPD. LPDs are generally Great Green Fleet people continues to be a challenge. signi? cantly increase LCS lethality and larger and more capable than LSDs. The With the deployment of the USS John Admiral Mark Ferguson, commander survivability, to be introduced no later new ships, referred to as the LX(R), will C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group in Janu- of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Af- than FY19, and potentially as early as be a modi? ed and less costly version of ary, Secretary Mabus has been able to rica and Allied Joint Command Naples,

FY18. Because of these ships’ enhanced the existing LPD hull design. see the realization of his “Great Green agrees, and thinks today’s force is the counter-surface and countersubmarine Fleet,” with ships powered by biofuels. best ever.

capabilities, contributing to their role in Combat Enablers Even with todays depressed oil prices, “As I look over just my career, my 42

Battle Group operations, we are redesig- USNS Lewis B. Puller, the ? rst Ex- the cost is bound to go back up, and ob- years from the time I entered Annapolis nating these future ships as Frigates.” peditionary Mobile Base (ESB), for- taining petroleum products is a logistical to now, I came in when we transitioned

LCS average ship construction cost, merly the A? oat Forward Staging Base, challenge. Renewable fuels is one way from the draft to the all-volunteer force, under the current block buy contracts, will relieve the USS Ponce in the Ara- to diversify the supply of energy. As the and I saw what that force looked like has decreased by nearly 50 percent in bian Gulf. The Navy’s two Expedition- availability of “drop in” biofuels is go- when I was an ensign and I see it now. comparison to LCS hulls contracted pri- ary Transport Docks (ESD), formerly ing up, cost is coming down. When the history books are written, they or to 2009, Mabus said. known as the Mobile Landing Platform) While some have called the Great will say that the biggest achievement of

The Navy plans to solicit bids for de- will support the prepositioning ? eet. The Green Fleet a publicity stunt, Mabus this era has been the creation of this pro- tailed design and construction of the ? rst six Expeditionary Fast Transports says it’s all about war? ghting. “Diver- fessional, all-volunteer force – a force ? rst six ships in the T-AO 205s and the (EPF), formerly designated the Joint sifying our energy sources arms us with with pride, amazing professionalism,

LHA 8 amphibious assault ship called High Speed Vessel) have been delivered, operational ? exibility and strengthens education, and performance levels,” Fer-

LHA-8 that the Navy wants to procure with three more under construction. The our ability to provide presence, turning guson said. “As I look at all the enlisted in FY2017, but only opening the com- total program is for 10 ships, but funding the tables on those who would use ener- ranks, especially the young Sailors, it’s petition to the two bidders—Huntington has been authorized for two more. The gy as a weapon against us,” Mabus said. the highest quality force we have ever

Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding Navy has embarked on the procurement had. And it’s having signi? cant, positive (HII/Ingalls) and General Dynamics’ of a new class of replenishment ships, People impacts on the organization – we can

National Steel and Shipbuilding Compa- the John Lewis (T-AO 205) class oiler But even with the newest ships and air- never take it for granted.” 26 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • JUNE 2016

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