HSV-2 Swift
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | HSV-2 Swift |
Ordered | October 2002 |
Builder | Incat, Tasmania, Australia |
Yard number | 061 |
Acquired | 15 August 2003 |
Out of service | 2013 |
Refit | October 2008 |
Fate | Left U.S. MSC contracted service in 2013 |
Notes | ensign later in her UAE service but this is unconfirmed. |
United Arab Emirates | |
Name |
|
Owner | Seajets (2017–Present) |
Port of registry | Avatiu Cook Islands (2018–Present) |
Identification |
|
Fate | Attacked 1 October 2016; remained afloat and salvaged as of 4 October 2016. Declared unrepairable and decommissioned. |
Status | Laid up at Salamis Island |
General characteristics | |
Displacement |
|
Length | 321.5 ft (98.0 m) |
Beam | 88.6 ft (27.0 m) |
Draft | 11.15 ft (3.40 m) |
Propulsion | Caterpillar 3618 marine diesel engines |
Speed |
|
Range | 3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) |
Capacity |
|
Complement | 17 Contract Mariners; berthing for 107 with additional temporary berthing for 87 when seating is converted |
Crew | 35 |
Armament | 4 × .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun mounts |
HSV-2 Swift is a hybrid
In July 2015, the ship was leased by the United Arab Emirates National Marine Dredging Company and was used to carry aid through the
Design and description
The ship is a
The HSV stands for "High Speed Vessel", and her home port while chartered as a MSC vessel was
Construction and acquisition
The ship was constructed by the Australian shipbuilder Incat in Hobart, Tasmania, and was leased to the U.S. Navy through Bollinger/Incat of Lockport, Louisiana. She was the second catamaran the Navy leased to test new technologies and concepts associated with the Chief of Naval Operations's "Sea Power 21" plan. The contract value for the first year was $21.7 million.
Swift is the fourth Incat-built high-speed wave piercing catamaran to enter military service, following behind HMAS Jervis Bay, United States Army Vessel (USAV) Theater Support Vessel Spearhead (TSV-X1) and USS Joint Venture.
US flagged service
The first ship of this class to be used by the Navy,
In the autumn of 2003, while operating with the
In November 2003 she began
In January 2005, Swift was tapped to provide logistical assistance during the tsunami relief effort in North Sumatra. Swift departed Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, on 3 January 2005.[10] Swift was in Pearl Harbor 15 January 2005, on the way to provide assistance following the tsunami.[11] The ship arrived in Singapore on 30 January 2005,[12] Belawan, Indonesia 3 February 2005[13] and Sattahip, Thailand, on 7 February 2005.[14]
Prior to arriving in the tsunami affected region, crews were swapped in Pearl Harbor, with Gold crew relieving Blue crew in less than eight hours.[citation needed] Swift embarked a helicopter detachment, and served as a base of operations for two helicopters and their crew for 30 consecutive days at sea. During the operation, Swift sailed for 30 straight days, supported a helicopter detachment and support crew and conducted two underway replenishments.[15]
In 2005, Swift played a major role in
During the
Swift departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on 25 April 2007, to serve as a Global Fleet Station (GFS). The ship hosted more than 1,000 host nation military and civilian personnel during twelve visits to seven countries such as Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama. In these countries, personnel on board Swift conducted 39,890 hours of subject matter expert exchanges in such areas as leadership, small boat operations, port security and small unit tactics.[18]
The six-month U.S. Navy sponsored GFS deployment tested the Navy's GFS concept, a maritime security cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening global partnerships through training and cooperation activities. Swift transported U.S. military training teams to conduct maritime training with regional civil and maritime services.[18]
During the last half of the deployment, more than 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) of medical and food supplies were donated through Project Handclasp. Swift hosted numerous dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Jamaica and U.S. Ambassadors to Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Jamaica.[18]
The GFS pilot mission was completed on 30 September 2007, when Swift returned to Naval Station Mayport, Florida.[18]
On 5 May 2010, Swift, along with various embarked Navy and Marine Corps units, departed Naval Station Mayport for a five-month deployment for Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010.[19]
While in port, Swift received 140 Project Handclasp pallets and two fire engines. The
Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy program that accepts and transports educational, humanitarian and goodwill material on a space-available basis aboard U.S. Navy ships for distribution to foreign nation recipients.
SPS is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission's primary goal is information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region.[20]
In April 2013, a TIF-25K Tethered Aerostat (unmanned blimp) was tested from the stern of Swift. The aerostat could be positioned 3,000 feet (910 m) above the vessel for surveillance.[21]
Swift was to be replaced with
UAE flagged service
Swift returned to Incat at Hobart in July 2013 for refit for sale or charter.
Attack off the coast of Yemen
On 1 October 2016,
U.S. Navy destroyers USS Mason and USS Nitze, and amphibious transport dock USS Ponce were dispatched to the area "to ensure that shipping continues unimpeded in the strait and the vicinity."[4] Mason and Ponce were subsequently attacked on 9 October,[28] 12 October[29] and again on 15 October.[30][31] U.S. Defense officials said that Swift was in tow to Eritrea as of 3 October 2016.[4] Later photographs proved that she was still afloat, albeit heavily damaged, as of 5 October 2016.[32]
Move to Greece
Social media reports showed her afloat in a Greek port in July 2017 with significant damage to the port bow.[33] As of July 2017[update], Swift 1 is reportedly now owned by Greek ferry company Seajets.[34][35] In 2018 she renamed Ift.
Gallery
-
HSV-2 Swift navigates the waters off the coast of Southern Iraq
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Swift refuels Avenger during RIMPAC 2004
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Swift refuels astern from USNS Yukon, 18 February 2005.
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Swift in Limassol Port in July 2006, during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
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Swift in Limassol Port
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Rear view of Swift while in Limassol Port
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Swift navigates through Yokosuka Bay inYokosuka, Japan
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Swift in port at Oceandro Large Yacht shipyard, Port Suez, Egypt. Damage to the starboard bow from the alleged Houthi rebel attack is clearly visible.
Related developments
- HMAS Jervis Bay (AKR-45) (Royal Australian Navy)
- HSV-1 Joint Venture(US Navy)
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Navy.
- ^ a b c "Yemen conflict: UAE says Houthis attacked civilian ship". BBC. 5 October 2016.
- ^ a b "HSV-2 Swift Destroyed Off Yemeni Coast By Anti-Ship Missile". The War Zone. 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Incat-built HSV-2 Swift battered but not sunk in rocket attack". The Mercury. 6 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d Tomlinson, Lucas (3 October 2016). "US warships sent to area where Iran-backed rebels attacked Saudi-led coalition ship". Fox News.
- ^ "Swift battered but not sunk in attack". 6 October 2016.
- ^ a b Brumley, Jeff: "Unusual ship visits Mayport after 6-month deployment to African waters" Florida Times-Union, October 5, 2011.
- ^ Johnson, JO2 C. Grant (20 December 2002). "Hampton Roads Welcomes HSV 2 Swift". US Navy News.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b McKain, JO3 Shawnee (25 September 2003). "HSV 2 Swift Lives up to Its Name". US Navy News.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Helmoed-Romer Heitman (19 November 2003), "US Navy catamaran on training cruise off West Africa", Jane's Defence Weekly, p. 19
- ^ Kieschnick, Fifi (5 January 2005). "Ingleside Ship Deploys to Support Disaster Relief Efforts". US Navy News.
- ^ "Image 050115-N-9662L-003 Caption". US Navy. 15 January 2005.
- ^ "Image 050130-N-8629M-069 Caption". US Navy. 30 January 2005.
- ^ "Image 050203-N-3642E-008 Caption". US Navy. 3 February 2005.
- ^ "Image 050207-N-3642E-001 Caption". US Navy. 7 February 2005.
- ^ "HSV-2 Swift". Incat. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ Kaylor, JOSN Marissa (7 October 2005). "Swift's Back and Forth Efforts Pay Off - NNS051007-07". US Navy News.
- ^ Watkins, MCS1 Michael B. W. (9 August 2006). "Humanitarian Aid Reaches Lebanon". US Navy News.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d Clark, MCS1 Cynthia (2 October 2007). "Pilot Global Fleet Station Completes Mission". US Navy News. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Wood Sr., MCS2 Robert A. (6 May 2010). "HSV 2 Swift Departs for Southern Partnership Station 2010". US Navy News.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - navy.mil. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- navy.mil. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (15 October 2012). "Interview: U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Buzby". Defense News.[dead link]
- ^ a b Binnie, Jeremy (28 July 2015). "HSV-2 turns up off Aden". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 July 2015.
- ^ Nick Clark (30 July 2013). "Swift returns to Hobart". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
- ^ "Yemen: Houthis claim attack on UAE military vessel". aljazeera.com. 1 October 2016.
- ^ "Yemen rebels claim attack on UAE military-vessel". alarabiya.net. Al Arabiya. 1 October 2016.
- ^ "Saudi-led forces rescue passengers from vessel off Yemen: SPA". Reuters. 1 October 2016.
- ^ a b LaGrone, Sam (11 October 2016). "USS Mason Fired 3 Missiles to Defend From Yemen Cruise Missiles Attack". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ LaGrone, Sam (12 October 2016). "Pentagon Pledges to Respond in 'Appropriate Manner' After New Yemen Missile Attack on USS Mason". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ Starr, Barbara; Kenny, Caroline (15 October 2016). "USS Mason fires missiles in Red Sea after apparent attack". CNN. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ LaGrone, Sam (15 October 2016). "CNO Richardson: USS Mason 'Appears to Have Come Under Attack'". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ الجرافات البحرية : السفينة " سويفت " تتمتع بغطاء تأميني. [Marine Dredging: Ship "Swift" is covered by insurance.] (in Arabic). Emirates News Agency (WAM). 5 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Heavily Damaged HSV-2".
- ^ Κορωναίου, Ευαγγελία (5 July 2017). Ένα πολεμικό πλοίο στο στόλο της SEAJETS [A warship in the SEAJETS fleet]. Κοινή Γνώμη (in Greek). Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ Στην Ελευσίνα έφτασε το HSV-2 SWIFT [HSV-2 SWIFT arrives at Elefsina Bay]. Seazoom.gr (in Greek). 2 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
External links
- US Navy Fact File - High Speed Vessel, Archived November 2005.
- Military Sealift Command - High-Speed Vessel Swift. Archive as of February 2013.
- "Ready? You bet!". Sealift. Military Sealift Command. July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016. - Summary of MSC service of HSV-2 Swift