USNS Choctaw County

USNS Choctaw County (JHSV-2/T-EPF-2), (ex-Vigilant) is the second Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport,[1] which is operated by the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command and was built in Mobile, Alabama.[3][4]

USNS Choctaw County in Mayport on 7 October 2014
History
United States
NameUSNS Choctaw County
Namesake
OperatorMilitary Sealift Command
Awarded28 January 2010[1]
BuilderAustal USA
Laid down8 November 2011[1]
Launched1 October 2012[1]
In service6 June 2013[1][2]
Renamedfrom Vigilant
ReclassifiedT-EPF-2, 2015
Identification
MottoHarvet Peace, Prepare For War
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeSpearhead-class expeditionary fast transport
Length103.0 m (337 ft 11 in)
Beam28.5 m (93 ft 6 in)
Draft3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
  • 4 × MTU 20V8000 M71L diesel engines
  • 4 × ZF 60000NR2H reduction gears
Speed43 knots (80 km/h; 49 mph)
Troops312
Crew41
Aircraft carriedMedium helicopter
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

Capabilities

The EPF can transport US Army and US Marine Corps company-sized units with their vehicles, or reconfigure to become a troop transport for an infantry battalion.[3]

It has a flight deck for helicopter operations and a loading ramp that allows vehicles to quickly drive on and off the ship. The ramp is suitable for the types of austere piers and quay walls common in developing countries. EPF has a shallow draft (under 15 feet (4.6 m)).[3]

Construction and career

On 6 October 2011, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced in Ackerman, Mississippi that the second Expeditionary Fast Transport, previously having been named Vigilant by the United States Army before the transfer of the EPF program to the Navy,[1] would be named USNS Choctaw County.[5] Since the ship will be operated by the Military Sealift Command and not the United States Navy itself, it will carry the USNS designation and not USS. The ship is named for three U.S. counties, located in Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma,[6] all three of which are named for the Choctaw tribe of American Indians.

The ship is laid down on 8 November 2011 and launched on 1 October 2012 by Austal USA. She was commissioned on 6 June 2013.

References
  1. "USNS Choctaw County". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  2. "Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Choctaw County" (Press release). PEO Ships Public Affairs, U.S. Navy. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), USN. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  4. Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  5. "Navy Names New Joint High Speed Vessel" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 6 October 2011. 859-11. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. "Navy to Christen Second Joint High Speed Vessel" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 13 September 2012. 744-12. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2015.

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