MOBILE, Alabama - The keel of the future USNS Brunswick (JHSV 6)
was authenticated at the Austal USA shipyard Dec. 2.
Long time civil servant and ship sponsor, Mrs. Alma B. Booterbaugh
served as the keel authenticator, etching her initials into the keel plate to
verify that the ship's keel was "truly and fairly" laid.
"We're honored to have Mrs. Booterbaugh here today from the
Secretary of the Navy's office," said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater
Sealift Program Manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. "The Navy is
tremendously excited about the capabilities this ship will provide to the Navy.
The program is benefitting greatly from serial production and we look forward to
delivering this ship less than a year from now."
JHSVs are versatile, non-combatant vessels designed to operate in
shallow-draft ports and waterways, increasing operational flexibility for a wide
range of activities including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in
small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for
rapid transport. They will be capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off
discharge facilities, as well as on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main
Battle Tank (M1A2).
JHSVs will provide fast intra-theater transportation of troops,
military vehicles and equipment. Each JHSV is capable of transporting 600 short
tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. Each vessel includes
a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations.
Brunswick will have airline style seating for 312 embarked forces with fixed
berthing for 104.
JHSV 6 was named after Brunswick in April 2013 by Secretary of the
Navy Ray Mabus to honor the values and men and women of the city, as well as the
state of Georgia. Brunswick is one of three JHSVs currently under construction
at Austal and is scheduled to deliver in late 2015.
As one of the
Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible
for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious
ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.
Currently, the majority of shipbuilding programs managed by PEO Ships are
benefiting from serial production efficiencies, which are critical to delivering
ships on cost and schedule.