Description
The high-speed catamaran HSV 2 Swift was delivered to the U.S. Navy on August 15, 2003, and is currently serving operationally as an interim Mine Warfare Command and Support Ship (MCS) and Navy/Marine Corps experimentation vessel. Swift will be used to develop concepts, capabilities and reconfigurable mission modules for multiple mission areas in support of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program development.

Background
The Navy has taken advantage of the lessons learned from Joint Venture (HSV-X1) and the Army?s high-speed theater support vessel Spearhead (TSV-1X). The Bollinger-Incat team incorporated more than 75 enhancements in Swift during construction, and demonstrated unusual flexibility and a strong desire to meet the Navy?s needs. It took only ten months from contract award to ship delivery ? record time for putting to sea a truly transformational ship.

Because Swift was built to meet commercial standards and intended for modular payloads, the Navy could use commercial high-speed vessel training courses for the crew, thus enabling her to proceed directly from new construction to deployment. She departed on her maiden deployment only 11 days after delivery.

Swift is a completely automated "sea frame" ship that can perform many missions. Building on lessons learned during the testing of Joint Venture and that ship?s wartime deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Swift brings new capabilities and unparalleled opportunities for tactical innovation to the Navy-Marine Corps team of the 21st century.

General Characteristics, Swift (HSV 2)

Builder: Bollinger/Incat USA, LLC, Lockport, LA.
Ship Type: Aluminum-hulled, wave-piercing catamaran.
Date Deployed: August 2003.
Unit Cost: Contract Value: $21.7 million (First year value) Current lease can go out to four years 11 months if all options exercised.
Propulsion: Caterpillar 3618 marine Diesel engines.
Length: 321.5 feet (98 meters).
Beam: 88.6 feet (27 meters).
Speed: Max: 53+ miles per hour (85+ kilometers per hour/45+ knots)
Operating: 34+ miles per hours (55+ kilometers per hour/30+ knots).
Range: 4,000+ miles (6,500 kilometers/3,500+ nautical miles).
Crew: Approximately 42; Berthing for 107 with additional temporary berthing for 87 when seating is converted.
Load: Approximately 605 tons (615 metric tons).
Cargo Deck: Approximately 28,740 sq. ft. (2,670 square meters).
Armament: MK 96 w 25mm/40mm Stabilized Gun; MK 45 Snake Eyes with MK 19 Grenade Machine Gun.
Homeport: Crew Homeports: Naval Station Ingleside, TX. and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, VA