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Wackiest Ship in the Army
FORT EUSTIS, Va. (Army News Service, May 10, 2004)--The U.S. Armyâs experimental Theater Support Vessel USAV Spearhead, TSV-1X, made its first port call at its home base of Fort Eustis April 30.The vehicle spent 14 months in the Persian Gulf supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom before sailing to Australia for modifications in November. "(The TSV) gives the Army high-speed unit move capabilities," said Chief Warrant Officer Patrick May, vessel master for one of the two teams that operate the diesel engine catamaran. "We can now pick up a company and all of its equipment and move from one point to another in theater at a high rate of speed." The TSV, with a top speed of 48 knots, is much faster than its predecessor, the Logistical Support Vessel, which could only travel at 10 knots. While in the Persian Gulf, the TSV supported operations for all five branches of the U.S. military and for civilian contractors. The TSV also supported several special operations including transporting Navy SEALs, said May. Brig. Gen. Brian Geehan, chief of U.S. Army Transportation, was on hand to welcome the TSVâs crew to Fort Eustis. The commander also toured the 380-foot vessel and spoke to the crew. "I have a real appreciation for what (the TSV crew) is doing," he said. "This is a whole new era in Army watercraft and they are truly pioneering. Everything that happens aboard that ship, they are experiencing for the first time." The TSV-1X, which was commissioned in late 2002 as an experimental vessel, has more than proved its worth, said Geehan. The Army is planning to have a fleet of 12 TSVs by 2012. "It is a revolutionary transformational capability," said Geehan. "It gives us a huge improvement in range and speed, and more importantly, instead of being able to carry only equipment, it carries equipment and Soldiers." More at link Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-05-11 |
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