Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), the first ship in the U.S. Navy’s planned class of 10 JHSVs, deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility for its maiden deployment in January 2014.
SOUDA BAY, Greece (Feb. 05, 2014) The U.S. Navy’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) arrives in Souda Bay for a scheduled port visit. Spearhead is on its first interational deployment supporting theater security cooperation efforts and the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley)
The 338-foot-long aluminum catamaran, which contains a 20,000 square-foot mission bay area, can be reconfigured to adapt to a wide-range of operations and missions.
Spearhead began its deployment with operations in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, which included port stops in Rota, Spain, and Souda Bay, Greece. The ship will soon support partnership-building in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in the waters off the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa by serving as a platform for Saharan Express and Obangame Express, two of four multinational exercises facilitated annually by Naval Forces Europe-Africa, both of which aim to develop skill sets and interoperability among regional partners.
Check out some stats about Spearhead, and recent photos of the ship and crew in action in the Mediterranean Sea:
Length: 337.9 feet Draft: 12.57 feet MissionBay: 20,000 square feet Speed: 35 knots Civilian crew: 22-25 Military Department: 32 for 2014 mission Embarked Force Seating: 312 Forward deployed to: U.S. 6th Fleet AORAFN story of the ship’s stop in Souda Bay
Virtual welcome aboard Spearhead
SOUDA BAY, Greece(Feb. 05, 2014) Sailors handle mooring lines as USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) arrives in Souda Bay for a scheduled port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley)
ROTA, Spain (Jan. 29, 2014) – Civil service mariners assigned to USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) load mobility aids and medical supplies bound for parts of Africa under the U.S. Navy’s Project Handclasp program. Handclasp is a Navy program that accepts and transports goodwill material aboard Navy ships for distribution to foreign nation recipients. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Jeff Atherton)
AT SEA (Feb. 17, 2014) – Civil service mariners aboard USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) conduct rescue boat training during a man-overboard drill. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Justin R. DiNiro)
SOUDA BAY, Greece (Feb. 24, 2014) – USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) prepares to moor to the pier as she arrives in Souda Bay for a scheduled port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Jeffrey M. Richardson)
