EPF 10 launched from Austal

MOBILE, Ala. - The Navy’s 10th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, Burlington (EPF 10), was launched from Mobile’s Austal USA shipyard on March 1. Launching is a multi-step process over two days at Austal. The EPF is built in at a modular-manufacturing facility, moved to a docking barge, and then transported to dry dock where it is submerged into the Mobile River and launched. EPFs are versatile, non-combatant transport ships that are used for high-speed transportation of troops, military vehicles, and equipment, including a fully loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank. The vessels support a variety of missions including overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, support of special operations forces, theater security cooperation activities and emerging joint sea-basing concepts. Austal is also in production of Puerto Rico (EPF 11) and Newport (EPF 12). (Source: Seapower Magazine 03/01/18)