Name USNS Fall River Laid down 20 May 2013 Construction started 20 May 2013 Length 103 m | Awarded 12 October 2010 Sponsored by Diane Bemus Patrick Launched 16 January 2014 Builder Austal USA | |
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Namesake Fall River, Massachusetts Operator Military Sealift Command | ||
USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4) is the fourth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport, which is part of the United States Military Sealift Command. Fall River was built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.
On 23 March 2010, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced in Fall River, Massachusetts that the fourth Expeditionary Fast Transport will be named USNS Fall River. Since the ship will be operated by the Military Sealift Command and not the United States Navy itself, it will carry the USNS designation and not USS.
The ship was christened on January 11, 2014 by First Lady of Massachusetts, Diane Bemus Patrick, at Austal USA's Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. The ship was launched seven days later on the 16th of January. The Fall River completed acceptance trials on 25 July 2014. Following delivery and Final Contract Trials (FCT) later in the year, the Fall River was accepted into MSC service on 15 September 2014.
Capabilities
The EPF will be able to transport US Army and US Marine Corps company-sized units with their vehicles, or reconfigure to become a troop transport for an infantry battalion.
It will have a flight deck for helicopter operations and a loading ramp that will allow vehicles to quickly drive on and off the ship. The ramp will be suitable for the types of austere piers and quay walls common in developing countries. EPF will have a shallow draft (under 15 feet (4.6 m)).