Asian Defence News

A ceremony celebrating the laying and authentication of the keel of the future USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) was held at the Austal USA shipyard, yesterday.

USNS Trenton (JHSV-5) will be a Spearhead-class joint high speed vessel. Spearhead-class ships are used to support overseas operations, conduct humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and support special operations forces. These type of vessels also have an aviation flight deck and can operate in shallow waters.

The JHSV is capable of interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, features an off-load ramp and a flight deck, and has a shallow draft of less than 15 feet. Its speed and ability to access austere port environments, as well as the size and versatility of its cargo capabilities, makes the JHSV an extremely flexible asset for support of a wide range of operations.The fourth ship to be named after New Jersey’s capital city, JHSV 5 honors the values and the men and women of the city as well as the state of New Jersey. USNS Trenton will be owned and operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC), operating within MSC’s Sealift program. She will be manned by a crew of 22 civil service mariners with military mission personnel embarking as required.