Austal-built EPF proving its worth

The Navy continues to expand its use of Expeditionary Fast Transport ships. In June, USNS Carson City (T-EPF-7) conducted the first high-latitude operations and first mine countermeasures mission (MCM) for this class of ships. Carson City took part in the multi-nation Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) training exercise - with Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom - from June 1-15 in the Baltic Sea. The ship deployed Remus-100 and Remus-600 unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to conduct mine countermeasures work, and coordinating with other nations’ MCM boats through a command and control suite installed aboard Carson City. EPF ships are meant to provide high-speed personnel and equipment transport, with an eye towards humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, evacuations and missions on the lower end of warfare. The Navy’s Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 is considering using the platform as a command ship in the region. Its BALTOPS mission took that idea to a higher level, providing command and control of a task unit conducting mine countermeasures, and the deployment of MCM UUVs from the EPF. (Source: USNI News 07/05/18) Gulf Coast Note: USNS Carson City (formerly JHSV-7 Courageous) is the seventh Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport currently in service with the Military Sealift Command. Carson City was built by Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., and was christened at Austal on Jan. 16, 2016.