By
Graham Davis
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CN,
VADM Ritchie with RADM Paul Ryan and Capt Clifford of Incat
with the USN’s newest vessel, HSV 2 Swift.
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CN,
Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie, recently attended the handover of
the United States Navy’s newest vessel - a Tasmanian built
Incat.
The handover was held in the Port of Hobart and attended by a
number of dignitaries, including the Governor of Tasmania, Sir
Guy Green, Minister for Trade, Mark Vaille, Premier of Tasmania,
Jim Bacon, and senior Tasmanian ADF officers.
During the ceremony, RADM Paul Ryan, Commander, Mine Warfare Command
USN, supervised the hoisting of the colours - signifying US ownership
of HSV 2 Swift from the Hobart ship builder.
The High Speed Vessel (HSV) will serve operationally as an interim
Mine Warfare Command and Support ship.
There is also intention by the USN to experiment with HSV 2 Swift,
testing the capability of the wave piercing hull design and the
interoperability potential with watercraft, amphibious ships,
and other shipping.
“The US Navy, the RAN and the Royal Navy have minesweepers,”
said Rear Admiral Ryan.
“The US Navy has minesweeping helicopters and we have trained
marine mammals. This (HSV 2 Swift) will be my command ship for
mine warfare and mine clearing operations.”
With her high tech design, the 98 metre HSV 2 Swift can maintain
an average speed of 35 knots with a payload of personnel and equipment
of 500 tons. The upper deck is a NAVAIR certified helicopter flight
deck.
The US military became interested in the high-speed vessels following
Australia’s use of the 86 metre HMAS Jervis Bay in East Timor.
HSV 2 Swift will be deployed to Naval Station Ingleside (Texas)
and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek (Virginia).
And with pure coincidence, the first US military purchased Incat,
Joint Venture, returned to Tasmania from the Persian Gulf where
it became a forward base for Navy SEALs securing Iraqi oil terminals.
Joint Venture will remain in Hobart for her two-year service under
Incat.
