Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Tags
Related Content
Topic
Document Type
  • Ship History
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials

Fall River II (JHSV-4)


DoD Photograph 110915-O-ZZ999-002-9-17-201
Caption: Fall River (JHSV 4) II
Description: The Pre-Commissioning Unit Spearhead (JHSV-1), the first of 10 U.S. Navy joint high-speed vessels designed for rapid intra-theater transport of troops and military equipment, undergoes preparations for its Sept. 17 christening ceremony as a United States Naval Ship at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., Sept. 15, 2011. The 338-foot-long aluminum catamarans were designed to be fast, flexible and maneuverable in shallow waters, making them ideal for transporting troops and equipment quickly. (U.S. Navy photo by Austal USA/Released)

(JHSV-4: displacement 2,362; length 338'; beam 93'; draft 13'; speed 21 knots; complement 41, troop capacity 312; aircraft, up to two Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk helicopters; class Spearhead)

The first and second naval vessels of this name honor the city of Fall River, Massachusetts.

II

Spearhead (JHSV-1) prepares for her christening at Austal’s shipyard at Mobile, Ala., 15 September 2011. Fall River presents a similar sleek silhouette. (Department of Defense Photograph 110915-O-ZZ999-002-9-17-201, Defense Visual Information Center).

The second Fall River (JHSV-4) was laid down on 20 May 2013 at Mobile, Ala., by Austal; sponsored by Mrs. Diane B. Patrick, wife of Governor Deval L. Patrick of Massachusetts; and is scheduled to be placed in service on 30 June 2014.

The Military Sealift Command will operate the joint high speed vessel, which can embark a company of marines or soldiers. Fall River has a flight deck for helicopter operations, and a loading ramp to enable vehicles to quickly drive on and off the ship. The ramp is designed to accommodate the limited piers and quay walls often encountered in developing countries.

Detailed history under construction.

Last Edited: 11/1 5/13
Mark L. Evans

Published: Wed Jul 08 09:33:06 EDT 2015