Navy wants 2 common auxiliary hulls

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy has begun work on finding a common design for two ship-types under the Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP) program. The program office realized the five mission areas CHAMP seeks - strategic sealift, aviation intermediate maintenance support, medical services, command and control, and submarine tending - to fit  people-centric (not as much internal volume for smaller ships), but with more berthing capability; and volume-centric (large volume areas inside). After initial industry feedback, the office realized that two hull designs should yield more savings instead of paying for five separate ships, Capt. Scot Searles, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, said Jan. 16 at the Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium. As the program office looks for options to meet those needs, it has two ships with hot production lines: Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) made by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., and the Expeditionary Seabase (ESB) made by General Dynamics’ NASSCO in San Diego. Both builders have noted the vast space in both ships’ designs and the flexibility to use that space for multiple missions, including medical. The EPF has some medical spaces, but a large bay could be outfitted for patient beds, and operating rooms. The ESB has a wide-open mission bay too that could be used as a hospital. The Navy previously planned to buy 10 EPF, but lawmakers have funded the 13th and 14th, and are negotiating contracts with Austal. Until the CHAMP hulls come online, the Navy will do service-life extension work on the identified hulls and buy used auxiliary ships as needed, Searles said. (Source: USNI News 01/16/19)