Austal-built JHSV completes ops

The Navy's first-in-class Joint High Speed Vessel, USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), left the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations Friday after more than three months deployed within the European and African theaters. Spearhead embarked a Marine squad for a crisis response exercise off the coast of Liberia; conducted maritime security operations, two multinational maritime exercises - Saharan Express and Obangame Express – and bi-lateral maritime law enforcement operation. The crew also delivered 46 pallets of humanitarian items, 22.5 tons, donated by private companies to non-governmental organizations as part of the U.S. Navy's Project Handclasp in Lagos, Nigeria. (Source: Navy News Service, 05/03/14) Gulf Coast note: Spearhead was delivered by Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., to the Navy in December 2012. It has contracted to build nine JHSVs. Previous: JHSV joins exercise; JHSV 1 on maiden deployment