Spearhead-class (EPF)

The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport (EPF) is a United States Navy-led shipbuilding program to provide high-speed, shallow-draft vessels for the United States military. The program combined the U.S. Army's Theater Support Vessel program and the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps High Speed Connector requirement, both originating in 2004. Originally designated as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), the class was redesignated as EPF in September 2015. Austal USA constructed the ships using an aluminum catamaran design derived from the Hawaii Superferry. The lead vessel, USNS Spearhead, was launched in September 2011 and delivered to the Military Sealift Command in December 2012. All Army vessels in the program were transferred to the Navy in May 2011.

The Spearhead-class transports feature an aluminum twin-hull catamaran shell powered by four MTU 20V8000 M71L diesel engines and four ZF 60000NR2H reduction gears. The electronic systems are integrated by General Dynamics Mission Systems using the OPEN CI infrastructure, which is also utilized on the Independence-class littoral combat ship. The design includes a 20,000-square-foot convertible mission bay, a flight deck capable of landing helicopters up to the CH-53 Super Stallion, and a stern-mounted loading ramp supporting up to 100 tons. The vessels can transport company-sized units with vehicles, or be reconfigured to seat 312 passengers, with permanent berthing for 104 personnel. Armament consists of four mounts for M2 .50-caliber machine guns. From the fourteenth vessel, USNS Cody (EPF-14), designated as Flight II, the design incorporates enhanced medical facilities, V-22 flight operations support, and launch capabilities for 11-meter rigid inflatable boats. Under the fiscal year 2023 budget, three larger Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS)—Bethesda, Balboa, and Portsmouth—were approved.

The Spearhead-class catamarans are operated by civil service mariners under the Military Sealift Command. The lead ship Spearhead and Fall River were stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in May and June 2025, after the Navy moved to sideline part of the fleet. In operational service, the vessels are limited by instability in rough waters. To maintain maximum speed, operations must be conducted in conditions not exceeding sea state 3, with speeds reduced to 15 knots in sea state 4 and 5 knots in sea state 5. In 2015, USNS Spearhead sustained bow damage in rough seas while operating outside its safe operating envelope, necessitating structural modifications to the first five vessels of the class. Although primarily used for logistics, the Navy has investigated utilizing the transports for drug interdiction with Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments, counter-piracy, and special operations support. The loading ramp has faced operational limits, proving unable to transfer vehicles to Mobile Landing Platforms in open ocean conditions above sea state 2. Austal also built a 72.5-meter High Speed Support Vessel derivative for the Royal Navy of Oman, delivering the first vessel, RNOV Al Mubshir, in May 2016.