HSV-2 Swift

HSV-2 Swift
History
United States
NameHSV-2 Swift
OrderedOctober 2002
BuilderIncat, Tasmania, Australia
Yard number061
Acquired15 August 2003
Out of service2013
RefitOctober 2008
FateLeft U.S. MSC contracted service in 2013
NotesPort of registry was changed to Majuro, upon purchase of Swift by Sealift Inc. Concurrent with that her flag was changed to that of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. After being leased by the UAE, Swift started flying the Flag of the United Arab Emirates (civil ensign). May have flown national flag/naval ensign later in her UAE service but this is unconfirmed.
United Arab Emirates
Name
  • Swift 1 (2013–2018)
  • Ift (2018–Present)
OwnerSeajets (2017–Present)
Port of registryAvatiu  Cook Islands (2018–Present)
Identification
FateAttacked 1 October 2016; remained afloat and salvaged as of 4 October 2016. Declared unrepairable and decommissioned.
StatusLaid up at Salamis Island
General characteristics
Displacement
  • 1,668 long tons (1,695 t) full
  • 940 long tons (955 t) standard
Length321.5 ft (98.0 m)
Beam88.6 ft (27.0 m)
Draft11.15 ft (3.40 m)
PropulsionCaterpillar 3618 marine diesel engines
Speed
  • 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) maximum
  • 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) operating
Range3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi)
Capacity
  • Approximately 605 long tons (615 t)
  • Approximately 28,740 sq ft (2,670 m2) cargo deck
Complement17 Contract Mariners; berthing for 107 with additional temporary berthing for 87 when seating is converted
Crew35
Armament4 × .50 caliber M2 Browning machine gun mounts

HSV-2 Swift is a hybrid catamaran. She was privately owned and operated by Sealift Inc., and was originally built under the JHSV program as a proof of concept. As part of this program, she was directly leased for evaluation from her builders by the United States Navy Military Sealift Command from 2003 to 2013, primarily as a mine countermeasures and sea basing test platform. Later during her official naval career she was mostly used for fleet support and humanitarian partnership missions.

In July 2015, the ship was leased by the United Arab Emirates National Marine Dredging Company and was used to carry aid through the Bab Al Mandab strait.[1] On 1 October 2016, the ship was attacked and damaged off the coast of Yemen by Iranian-backed rebel Houthis, who at the time claimed to have sunk the ship.[2][3] According to unnamed U.S. Department of Defense officials, the ship was damaged and was being towed to Eritrea.[4] The vessel sustained serious damage to its bow, but remained afloat.[5]

  1. ^ "Yemen conflict: UAE says Houthis attacked civilian ship". BBC. 5 October 2016.
  2. ^ "HSV-2 Swift Destroyed Off Yemeni Coast By Anti-Ship Missile". The War Zone. 2 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Incat-built HSV-2 Swift battered but not sunk in rocket attack". The Mercury. 6 October 2016.
  4. ^ Tomlinson, Lucas (3 October 2016). "US warships sent to area where Iran-backed rebels attacked Saudi-led coalition ship". Fox News.
  5. ^ "Swift battered but not sunk in attack". 6 October 2016.