The Navy’s Rapid-Response Fleet: Transporting 70-Ton Abrams Tanks at 35 Knots, 600 Tons of Cargo Every 1,200 Nautical Miles, and Executing Unique Missions with the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) Vessels, Often Dubbed ‘Swiss Army Boats’
The Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels, often affectionately dubbed ‘Swiss Army Boats,’ play a vital role in the U.S. Navy’s rapid-response fleet. These vessels are not armed themselves but are purpose-built for quick and compassionate humanitarian aid and other rapid missions. They are designed to assist in significant battle activities, capable of swiftly transporting, slicing through, and rolling off armored vehicles.
The Navy has recently awarded EPF developer Austal USA a contract worth over $230 million to construct a new EPF-15, while EPF 13 is currently in progress. The military sealift commands and operates these ships, with the EPF-12, known as the USNS Newport, having a range of 1,200 miles. This allows for the swift transportation of critical supplies and vehicles in high-risk areas without requiring massive deep-draft large deck ships.
The speed of these vessels aligns with the Navy’s distributed maritime operations strategy, aimed at enhancing combat power through the coordinated use of unmanned vessels, advanced weaponry, and dispersed assault capabilities. A less concentrated force is undoubtedly more vulnerable to concentrated enemy attacks. The EPFs also rely on cutting-edge speed and mobility to support both land and water-based assaults, offering specialized maritime-focused rapid assault options and bringing in follow-on support forces, vehicles, and supplies once a foothold is established.
In missions where small groups of special forces cannot achieve their objectives with 11-meter inflatable boats, EPFs can be of immense benefit. For example, an Osprey taking off from an EPF could execute vertical insertion operations, allowing Marines to gather intelligence behind enemy lines and support friendly troops in concealed assaults. If an Osprey rotorcraft could take off from the deck of an EPF, it could revolutionize land and water-based assault missions of this kind, significantly enhancing rapid deployment capabilities.
Additionally, the EPFs can load and transport Abrams tanks after landing, which existing Navy boats cannot do. EPFs also deploy MH-60s helicopter drones and can accommodate CH-53s. A future large-scale amphibious attack might make use of Abrams tank-carrying EPFs, alongside infantry transporters and ground assault robots.
Such an assault would involve joint coordination with F-35 and F-22 air support, naval surface ships for fire support, and numerous amphibious assault vehicles heading from ship to shore. The EPF vessels are equipped with features such as balanced bilge and bulbous bow opening structures made of aluminum, built to meet the specifications of the United States Department of Defense. They adhere to ABS standards for steel vessel guidelines but do not feature combat systems or the ability to host or utilize LCS mission modules. While they depend on commercial technologies, they incorporate restricted military features such as aeronautics, C4SI, and firefighting capabilities.
The EPFs are indeed versatile assets that contribute significantly to the Navy’s rapid-response capabilities, providing crucial support for a range of mission profiles, from humanitarian relief to rapid assault operations. Their unique combination of speed, mobility, and capacity to transport heavy equipment like Abrams tanks makes them indispensable components of the Navy’s operational toolkit.
